The Irish Family Planning Association (IFPA) has called for an annual publicity campaign at Christmas to highlight the risks of unprotected sex.
Speaking at the launch of the IFPA Christmas Safe Sex Message, the association’s medical director Dr Sheila Jones said the Government should invest in a "high-profile publicity campaign during ‘peak periods’ of sexual activism.
"Such a campaign should also highlight the risk of contracting a Sexually Transmitted Infection during unprotected, casual sex," said Dr Jones.
"In the run up to Christmas, high profile advertising should urge people to think twice before engaging in casual sex, particularly where they do not know the sexual history of the person they wish to sleep with."
Dr Jones said that the IFPA experiences greater demand for post-coital contraception and non-directive pregnancy counselling services after Christmas.
She also expressed her concern about the continuing increase in the cases of sexually transmitted infections, stressing the need for more information about what infections exist.