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TEN THOUSAND FREE home test kits for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are being ordered by Irish households every month, according to the minister with responsibility for public health.
Minister for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs Strategy Hildegarde Naughton said the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has received more than 100,000 orders between January 2023 and the end of November, while 91,000 were ordered in 2022.
The service provides people aged 17 and older with the option to test for STIs discreetly at home.
Those with a reactive result, indicating a need for additional investigation or treatment, are referred to participating public STI clinics.
Since November, individuals who test positive for chlamydia now have the option of an online prescription, reducing the number of referrals to clinics for treatment.
The Department of Health said that the home service has increased access to testing, removing potential barriers such as embarrassment, cost and time needed to travel to and attend a face-to-face service.
It added that the service is reaching key population groups and individuals who may not attend a face-to-face service and could have developed significant morbidity and contributed to onward transmission of STIs.
Of those ordering a home STI test kit in 2022, 56% reported having never visited a sexual health clinic previously.
In 2023, 42% of users reported that they had never had an STI test before.
Up to mid-September, 20% of gonorrhoea notifications and 36% of chlamydia notifications to the public health system came from the home testing service.
Ms Naughton said: “It’s providing increased opportunities for diagnosis and treatment which is particularly important in the context of rising STI rates, both nationally and internationally.”
Funding for the STI home testing service totalled 3.55 million euros in 2023 and has been increased to 4.27 million euros in 2024.
Over the past year, 5,594 users rated the service with an overall user rating of 4.88 out 5.
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Works out @ 36euro per test/ kit.
Does that not seem a bit steep considering size of order???
@Ken Mc Carthy: it’s 129€ for a standard test on letsgetchecked….. They’re not COVID tests
@another one? what’s going on is the semi state sec: ah, fair enough, mea culpa—- thought they were a ‘swab& dip’ kinda yoke
It’d be interesting to see what % of the ordered tests are sent back sent back to be tested. In my area, lads in school apply for free home sti kits but fill out the application with their friends’ details. They think it’s very funny when someone’s parent opens an sti kit sent to their son or daughter.
In the immortal words of Twink: “Zip up your mickey!”.
It’s a shame they are required in the first place. Common sense, personal responsibility, and a packet of condoms shouldn’t be beyond the reach of most people.
@IMHO: herpes, genital warts, syphilis and mpox. All passed even if a condom is used. People lie about their sti status, people don’t know if they have things sometimes. You could be in a long term relationship with someone who genuinely doesn’t know they have something because their previous partner never told them and they show no symptoms etc. there’s a multitude of reasons you would need one and getting them is not always a single persons fault
You’d think they would market this better…never heard about this until now. Its free so they’d prefer to keep it hush hush. Like the free antigen tests during covid. Practically had to get a court order to successfully order on of those
That’s a lot of people flattening curves.
The Brazilian rentboy community is most grateful and would like to show its appreciation, once it gets the all-clear.
Recent reports indicate an increased incidence in oral sti here and in the uk. It appears there is no real safe sex practices other than use condoms, monogamy or abstaining. Sadly the advice given in the 80s and 90s to prevent sti’s has gone by the wayside. A new information strategy needs to be implemented to remove the stigma of condom use among younger people who seem to make up the largest cohort of the victims.
If you do not need them just pass it on
Give up the NSA sex. :)
The dirty division!
Riding. Tiz a curse.
Can’t catch it Twice.. But you can get it 3 times!
have your say