Do you think that abstaining from sex automatically means you won’t contract a sexually transmitted infection (STI)? Think again. All it can take for an STI to transfer from one person to another is innocuous skin-to-skin contact, be it through hugging, handholding or even a casual handshake.

Infections such as chlamydia and gonorrhoea can lead to serious complications like infertility, swollen joints or even heart complications, but there is an easy way to stop them from evolving. A screening test will detect STIs at an early stage before they are given a chance to develop, so even though going for the test might seem daunting, it could spare you from a very difficult life in the long run.

This infographic from Union Quay Medical Centre http://www.unionquaymedicalcentre.ie/  provides essential information about STI screening, summarising what the test involves and advising on when it is essential (although it is advised that everybody goes for testing at some point, irrespective of their level of sexual activity). Early detection of an STI could not only stop it from developing in you; it also eliminates any worries that you could unwittingly transfer it to someone else.