Surge in demand predicted for morning-after pill

Family planning clinics across Ireland have predicted a surge in demand for the morning-after pill as festive cheer pushes up levels of unprotected sex.

The Irish Family Planning Association urged people to use contraception at a time of year when alcohol leads to greater numbers of sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancies.

Dr Sheila Jones, medical director of the association, said clinics faced a rise in demand for ‘‘post-coital contraception’’ and ‘‘crisis pregnancy counselling’’ during Christmas.

Many people use contraceptives but some, under the influence of drink, fail to use them properly at this time of year, she warned.

She also said the number of yearly cases of sexually transmitted diseases had increased by more than six times over the past decade, to 8,287.

The organisation called on the Department of Health to launch an annual safe sex publicity campaign during Christmas.

The morning-after pill was an effective method of after sex contraception and could be used up to 72 hours after unprotected intercourse or contraceptive failure, she said.

But, she added, it did not protect against sexually transmitted diseases.