An Irish Examiner survey looking at the sexual behaviour of Irish 18-35 year olds has found that a massive 71 per cent in this age group have had at least one ‘one-night-stand’. while 11 percent have had 11 or more one-night-stands.
However, the survey, carried out by Red C, also reveals huge levels of regret about these casual sexual encounters. Of those who had one night stands, 66 per cent had regrets about it, while only 33 per cent didn’t. Guilt was greater among women, with 82 per cent of them expressing regret, compared to 53 per cent of men.
Regret featured more strongly in the 18-25 age group, compared to the 26-34 cohort, although the report didn’t give a breakdown of these figures.
It found that while 28 per cent of respondents have never had a one-night-stand, 52 per cent have had between one and five such encounters, eight per cent have had 6-10 one-night-stands, and 11 per cent have had more 11 or more.
BR> The research also found that also found that 10 per cent of people surveyed have been involved in a relationship where an abortion took place. According to the figures, 80 per cent of those who experienced an unplanned pregnancy were not in a sexual relationship at the time.
Despite the explosion of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in Ireland in the past decade, only 38 per cent of people surveyed admitted to having been tested for STIs.
The survey also found that 77 per cent admitted to having had sex without a condom. According to the survey, 33 per cent blamed alcohol for this, with 33 per cent saying they got “carried away”.
For 14 per cent, lack of condom use was based on being in a committed relationship or trust, while only seven per cent said they were trying to conceived.
Use of the so-called ‘Morning-After Pill’, which is an abortifacient, is widespread. Of those who have used it, 48 per cent have used it once, 26 percent twice, 19 per cent three times, and 8 per cent more than three times.
BR> Three-quarters of those surveyed want the Morning-After Pill to be available over the counter, while 62 per cent want abortion legalised in Ireland.