The good news is sexually charged young Irish people have much better access to contraceptives than previous generations.  Condoms are widely available in pharmacies, supermarkets and through vending machines.

However according to irishhealth.com "Ireland has seen a big increase in sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in recent years".

It appears, young people may be putting themselves at risk of sexually transmitted infections because they will not talk about them.

Pfizer's recent survey on young people and sexual health, found most 18 to 20-year-olds would not tell anyone if they contracted an infection through sex because they are more concerned with the social stigma associated with STIs, than the potential health consequences.

According to the Department of Health Study (Irish Study of Sexual Health and Relationships); young people who find it easy to talk to their parents about sex are more likely to use contraception the first time they have sex.  "The talk" strikes fear and embarrassment into both parents and their children.  Luckily there are many websites and books that can provide advice on how best to approach this.  Obviously the best strategy will depend on the personalities involved and the finding the best way to get the information across.

Condom prices have been coming down in Ireland recently. Durex is being pressurised by increased competition from existing brands such as Mates and newcomers like Mojo Condoms. But concerns about social stigma and an unwillingness to talk about STIs appears to be the biggest challenge to the sexual health of young people.