Information, not medical advice. This page is general health information to help you find trusted services. It isn't a substitute for advice from a doctor or clinic. Details and phone numbers can change — check the linked service before relying on them. In a medical emergency call 112 (EU) or your local emergency number.
Common STIs — and why testing matters
Sexually transmitted infections are extremely common, and getting one doesn't say anything about you except that you're human and sexually active. The most common include chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis, genital herpes, genital warts (HPV) and the viral hepatitises. The key thing to know: many STIs have no symptoms at all, so you can have one — and pass it on — without ever feeling unwell. That's why regular testing, not waiting for symptoms, is the foundation of good sexual health.
When symptoms do appear they can include discharge, pain when peeing, sores, lumps, rashes or itching — but their absence doesn't mean you're clear. Get checked if you have new or multiple partners, if a partner tells you they've tested positive for something, or simply as part of a regular routine.
Testing & treatment
Testing is free and confidential in Ireland, whether through the HSE's free home STI test kit or at a public STI/GUM clinic. Most bacterial STIs — chlamydia, gonorrhoea and syphilis — are cured with antibiotics. Viral infections like herpes and HIV aren't cured but are very manageable with treatment. If you test positive, clinics can also help with partner notification — letting recent partners know they should test too, anonymously if you prefer — which protects the whole community.
Vaccinations that protect you
Several infections that affect sexual health can be prevented with free vaccines, and the HSE runs targeted vaccination for gay and bisexual men and other groups at higher risk. Ask at a sexual-health, PrEP or GBMSM clinic about:
- Hepatitis A & B — both can be passed on sexually and both are vaccine-preventable.
- HPV — the human papillomavirus, which causes genital warts and is linked to several cancers. HPV vaccination is recommended for gay and bisexual men up to a certain age.
- Mpox — see below; vaccination is offered to those at higher risk.
Mpox — symptoms & vaccination
Mpox (formerly "monkeypox") is a viral infection that can spread through close skin-to-skin contact, including sex. Early symptoms can include fever, headache, swollen glands, back pain and aching muscles, often followed by a blistering rash that may start on the face or genitals and spread. Most people recover, but it can be unpleasant and, for some, serious.
A vaccine offers strong protection, and in Ireland it's offered free to gay and bisexual men, trans people and others at higher risk — for example if you've had a bacterial STI recently, several partners in the past few months, group sex, or sex at a sex-on-premises venue. The course is two doses, 28 days apart; both doses give the best protection. Vaccination is available at selected public sexual-health and PrEP clinics — ask at your next visit.
Think you might have mpox, or been in close contact with someone who has? Avoid close contact, cover any rash, and phone a sexual-health clinic or your GP for advice before attending in person.
Reducing risk — without the shame
There's no single "right" way to look after your sexual health — it's about stacking up the tools that work for you: regular testing, vaccines, condoms when you want them, PrEP to prevent HIV, and honest conversations with partners. None of this is about fear or judgement; it's about staying well so you can enjoy your sex life with confidence.
See also PrEP & PEP explained, HIV testing & U=U, and where to find a sexual-health clinic.
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