The average Irish person has 11 sexual partners in their lifetime, compared to a global average of nine. The world's largest ever study on sexual attitudes and behaviour found that the Turks have the most partners, at 14.5, and India the lowest number, at three.

One of the country's leading sexual health experts, Dr Derek Freedman, said rising wealth was the reason Irish people were having more sexual partners. "Increased affluence leads to more sex, " the Dublin-based genito-urinary physician told the Sunday Tribune. "Here, there is more money, so more partying and people have more opportunities for sex. I'm not at all surprised the Irish number was higher than nine. In the profile of people I see, there would be nine a year, not nine per lifetime.

"There has been a shift to having more sexual partners with the trends of marrying later in life, giving more time for multiple partners. Add to this more partying and drinking and numbers add up, " he said.

Freedman's view is also reflected in the number of people who said they had one night stands: 62% of Irish people said they had experienced a onenight stand, 18% over the global average. The top figure of 64% was recorded in three countries; Sweden, Finland and New Zealand, according to the survey, carried out by Durex.

Ireland was also above the global average for the number of people who have unprotected sex without knowing their partner's sexual history: 58% admitted to this, 11% higher than the global average of 47%.

Freedman agreed that these shifts in sexual behaviour habits affected the growing number of sexually transmitted diseases, and advised people to keep the contact information of people that they have slept with. "You should know the person's name, get their mobile number and you should give them breakfast, " he said.

"People should keep all these contacts so if anything happens you can get back in touch with the other people. If you have talked to that person, while sober, and over breakfast, it will be easier to do, " he said.

However, Freedman expressed shock at the lack of concern shown by some infected people. "I tell my patients to tell their partner or contact that they may have an infection.

"But the belligerence of people when they are told is amazing and very worrying. Some people really think it will never happen to them."

Despite this, he believes that sex is one of the "least harmful" things people can be doing after a few drinks. "I think we are all too hung up on the sex aspect. People get into fights and kick each other around, that's much worse.

"People have to take precautions, but sex is much safer than many other things people do when they are drunk. Sex is a pleasant and social experience, " he said.