Young adults and women in their forties, who are starting over often find themselves at well-woman clinics.

Christmas can be the busiest time of the years for the clinics.

The numbers seeking emergency contraception soar during the holidays.

Alison Begas is from the Well Woman Centre in Dublin.

She said that many women in their forties were never properly educated about sex at school and consequently have gaps in their knowledge that they want to fill if they re-enter single life.

"It would traditionally have been teenagers, women in their twenties and single women who have sought advice, now we're finding women in their thirties and forties at the end of a stable relationship or coming out of a marriage coming to us," he said.

"They're back out there and some are aware of their needs to talk about contraception and their needs to redress issues about safe sex and sexual health."