The third World Contraception Day takes place on Saturday September 26 specifically targeting 18 to 25-year-olds. The theme of this year’s campaign is Your Life, Your Voice: Talk Contraception. Its objective is to encourage teenagers in particular to talk to people they trust, so they have all the information they need to prevent an unplanned pregnancy or sexually transmitted infection.
Worryingly, research shows that 56 per cent of Irish people use no contraception when having sex for the first time. “It may surprise many people that even in this age of mass media exposure, the embarrassment of talking about sex with friends or sexual partners, and the fear of appearing promiscuous are two of the biggest barriers to consistent contraceptive use, in addition to just pure lack of knowledge,” said Dr Shirley McQuade, medical director of the Dublin Well Woman Centre.
Information leaflets are available from the Irish Family Planning Association, Well Woman Clinics, from GPs, medical centres, students’ unions, colleges, and from Bayer Healthcare. WCD organisers are urging all those looking for information to visit www.MyContraception.ie Alternatively people should speak to their GP or family planning clinic about a contraceptive method that best suits and ensure full protection against unplanned pregnancies and STIs.
