The Christmas party season is causing a surge in demand for the morning after pill, Well Woman clinics have reported.
To cater for the demand, its three Dublin clinics are offering early morning and late evening appointments during the festive period. The clinics at Liffey Street, Coolock and Pembroke Road will also be open during the Christmas holidays to cater for emergency contraception requests.
Well Woman chief executive Alison Begas said the surge in demand for emergency contraception had become an annual event and it was important that clinics were open to meet people's needs.
She was speaking at the opening of the refurbished clinic at Pembroke Road and the launch of the new www.wellwomancentre.ie website.
It provides information about women's sexual and reproductive healthcare, and has an online shop selling items such as condoms.
Well Woman also published a new information leaflet today on the seven ages of woman's sexual health. "Many women still see sexual and reproductive healthcare as something that is relevant during their most reproductive years," Ms Begas said.
"But as we live longer, have more sexual partners, and remain sexually active for longer, caring for our sexual health needs to become part of our overall regular healthcare."
She called for a national sexual health strategy to shape sexual and reproductive healthcare policy. "Government leadership on this has been sadly lacking, but it is something which cannot be ignored indefinitely."
Christmas clinic opening times are available on www.wellwomancentre.ie.
