New! Chlamydia 'Worth Talking About'!

The Department of Health is launching a series of adverts across radio, television and magazine/newspapers about Chlamydia as part of the 'Sex "Worth Talking About' campaign. Launching this month it aims to raise awareness of Chlamydia amongst the general public with a particular aim at young people (those under 25) who are at the highest risk of this infection. In 2008 almost 210,000 people were diagnosed with Chlamydia with around three quarters of those being between 15-24.

Chlamydia is an often symptomless sexually transmitted infection with a national figure of one in ten under 25 year olds having the infection without knowing they have it. In a recent survey conducted with 2,000 adults over two thirds do not use a condom the first time they have sex with a new partner and were unaware that chlamydia can cause infertility in women and/or other complications. Of those young people questioned 14% said they felt they couldn't accept the test because they were unaware what it involved.

The Chlamydia Screening test for under 25's is simple, for men its a pee in the pot test and for women a self take vaginal swab; it's then sent to the laboratory and within 7-10 days you will be contacted by the Chlamydia Screening office who will tell you if your test was positive or negative. Should you be positive the adviser/nurse will tell you where to go to get treatment, which will be a one-off dose of antibiotics and abstaining from sex for 7-14 days (depending on the antibiotic).

If you would like further information on Chlamydia or to request a postal test, or for information on where to get a test please feel free to contact us on 07879 633824 or email info@banesmsh.org.uk or visit the National Chlamydia Screening Programme website.

Posted: 11 January 2010