Rates of sexually transmitted diseases in Northern Ireland have risen to a new high, it emerged today.
Cases of syphilis, gonorrhoea and genital herpes all increased in 2006, with chlamydia infections up by a fifth, a fresh report said.
Experts blamed the surge on young people ignoring the safe sex message and warned of future fertility and pregnancy dangers.
Department of Health Senior Medical Officer Dr Lorraine Doherty said: "This important report highlights the need for ongoing and sustained action to promote the safer sex message, in particular amongst young people.
"If left untreated these infections can have serious health consequences such as ectopic pregnancy, infertility and in pregnancy miscarriage, stillbirth and congenital defects."
The Health Protection Agency also said fresh diagnoses of Aids had fallen to 57 from 64 since last year. There were 43 new cases of syphilis, 1,979 of chlamydia, 274 of genital herpes and 195 of gonorrhoea.
Those aged 20-24 are particularly at risk.
While prevalence of Aids in Northern Ireland remains lower than the other UK countries, annual new diagnoses until this year have increased year on year since 2001, almost doubling between 2003 and 2004.
Joanna Gregg, sexual health co-ordinator for the Eastern Health Board, warned many people didn't know they were infected.
I think it is a lot more complicated than people becoming more promiscuous. We have the problem of young people consuming alcohol and when the drink is in the equation the wit is out," she said.
"These diseases are treatable if we catch them at an early stage but can have health implication for fertility in the future."