Public Health and Manx Care have relaunched a sexual health campaign for this year’s TT.
People are encouraged to practise safer sex, get tested regularly and seek advice from professionals.
The campaign was originally created after figures showed a sharp rise in demand for sexual health services following the June 2024 races.
Visits to the Manx Integrated Sexual Health Centre (MISH) increased by 217% and sexually transmitted infections rose by 80% in the following weeks.
During last year’s campaign, visits to MISH decreased compared to 2024. However, MISH continues to see an annual increase in unplanned pregnancies following the TT period and the number of STIs remains high overall.
This year’s campaign repeats the headline ‘You wouldn’t ride without a helmet… don’t take the risk. Wear a condom’. Free condoms will be available at TT hotspots and MISH will be at Bushy’s TT Village on the evenings of May 31 and June 1.
Dr Matt Tyrer, Director of Public Health, said: “STIs have been a steady year on year increase since 2020. The Manx Integrated Sexual Health Centre reports a similar trend here.
“STIs are usually treatable but can be serious and sometimes deadly if not treated promptly. Equally, unplanned pregnancies can change your whole life.
“Sexual health is an important topic although often difficult to talk about. We want to make sure that people know how to protect themselves, where to go to get advice and that they can feel comfortable to talk openly in a safe, non-judgemental environment at MISH.”