Almost three in four adults in Ireland have never had an STI (sexually transmitted infection) test or a sexual health check-up, a new survey has found.

According to the survey of almost 1,000 people nationwide aged 18 and older, 70% have never had their sexual health checked, with more than half of these saying it is because they are in a committed relationship.

One in three said they are simply not concerned about their sexual health, while one in four said that they always practise safe sex.

Overall, women are more likely to get an STI test than men.

Figures from the National Disease Surveillance Centre show that more than 12,000 people were infected with STIs other than HIV in 2012. Over 6,000 of these cases related to chlamydia.

Meanwhile, the survey, which was carried out by Aviva Health Insurance, also revealed that almost three-quarters of people feel that contraception is expensive.