Almost 2,500 home STI test kits ordered in Tipperary in 2023

People in Tipperary ordered 2,488 Sexually Transmitted Infection home test kits in 2023, according to figures from by the Department of Health.

According to the figures released to the Tipperary Star, 58.7% or 1,461 kits were returned for lab testing.

And of those, 164 people, or 11.2%, were referred for further testing or treatment.

The news comes as the Department of Health announce a huge increase in the number of people ordering kits in 2023.

Record cases in the Midwest

Public Health Midwest, which covers north Tipperary, Limerick and Clare, told the Tipperary Star that 2023 had the highest annual levels of chlamydia and gonorrhoea in the region.

A spokesperson for Public Health Midwest said they are very concerned that incidents of gonorrhoea have doubled in the last year and there has been a ‘substantial increase’ in chlamydia cases.

According to the latest Health Surveillance Protection Centre (HPSC) figures, in 2023, there were 381 gonorrhoea cases in the midwest region compared to 188 cases in 2022. There were 971 cases of chlamydia in the region last year compared to 798 the previous year.

“The record levels of sexually-transmitted infections in the region, which mirrors national and international trends, is a serious issue of Public Health concern.

“Our key message is to use a condom correctly, especially when having sex (oral, anal, vaginal) with a new partner or with multiple partners; avoid sexual contact if you have symptoms of an STI and to get tested if you have symptoms of an STI.

“You should also get tested if your recent sexual partner(s) have an STI or if you have new or multiple sexual partners,” said the spokesperson.

Specialist in Public Health Medicine, Dr Kenneth Beatty, said STI’s can have serious consequences.

“We are concerned about the record levels of sexually-transmitted infections in the Mid-West region, which is reflective of the overall national and international disease trends. For males and females, chlamydia and gonorrhoea can lead to painful inflammatory diseases, which can lead to infertility.

“Our vision is to continue meaningful collaborations with experts, and to expand community outreach, with a view of creating more much-needed awareness and reducing the incidence of all sexually-transmitted infections in the long-term,” said Dr Beatty.

TO THAT END

Last summer, HSE Mid-West established the first ever Regional Sexual Health and Wellbeing Committee. The goals of the committee are to reduce the level of STIs in the region and improve sexual wellbeing.

The committee which is made up of experts from a wide range of disciplines, including community outreach, acute clinical, nursing, public health, and communications met for the second time in November.

Health Protection nurse Melanie Barnes, said she was encouraged to see so many people order home-test kits.

“Sexual health awareness and reducing incidence of disease and its impact go hand-in-hand.

“For example, the free home testing service is an accessible, proactive innovation that can result in STI outbreak prevention, and it also reinforces sexual health awareness and education for users. Therefore, it has been very encouraging to see such a strong uptake of this service in the midwest.

“We are very proud of the sexual health promotional work we have collectively done in the region, and we look forward to continuing this in 2024,” said Ms Barnes.

How Does Home Testing work?

People aged 17 and over can avail of free home testing via www.sexualwellbeing.ie.

The kits test for chlamydia, gonorrhoea, HIV and syphilis. Tests can also be provided for hepatitis B or hepatitis C.
The kit is posted to the person’s address and contains the materials and instructions for completing the test without the assistance of a medical professional.

The person then sends the samples back to be tested. Results are delivered by text within a couple of days.

According to Public Health Midwest, free home testing has accounted for 43% of all positive chlamydia cases and 25% of all positive gonorrhoea cases in the region up to November 2023.

The Department of Health said last week that nationally, 56% of people who ordered a test said they had never visited a sexual health clinic before.

And 42% of users reported never having had never had an STI test.
10,000 a month

The Department of Health said last year, 10,000 home STI testing kits were ordered every month.

There were 100,000 orders up to the end of November 2023, an increase on the 2022 figure of 91,000.

People who ordered kits ranged from 17 years old to 65 plus. But most were in the 20-34 age group.

Sixty percent identified as female and 38% as male. The remaining two percent of people who ordered tests were non-binary, other or said they preferred not to say.

Seventy-eight percent of users were hetrosexual, and 22% gay, lesbian and bisexual. And a third of those who used the service were an ethnicity, other than Irish.

Since November, those who test positive for chlamydia can get an online prescription and do not need to be referred to clinics for treatment.

The Minister for State with responsibility for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drug Strategy, Hildegarde Naughton announced last week that the Government is increasing programme’s funding in 2024 from €3,550,000 in 2023 to €4.27 million in 2024.