The risks of not getting tested for Chlamydia

March 3, 2011 - PRLog -- Chlamydia has been the most common sexually transmitted infection to be passed on since 2000. According the Office for National Statistics the number of people contracting the disease has almost tripled between 1998 and 2008.

But in a world dominated by constant media pressure with health professionals warning of the risks and consequences of Chlamydia, why are young people in Essex still choosing not to get tested for a potentially life-changing disease?

It’s claimed it’s easier to have sex than talk about it. But because there aren’t any symptoms, a lot of people can have Chlamydia in Colchester and not even know it. It is more common in teenagers than any other age group and whether it’s down to not wanting to know the truth, or the embarrassment of admitting to friends they have had the test, teenagers are reluctant to get checked out.

However there is help at hand for anyone wanting to put their mind at rest if they think they may have the disease through sexual health clinics in Colchester, Clacton and Harwich - and it’s being made even easier. Essex health trusts are handing out testing kits in cinemas, nightclubs and restaurants giving teenagers a chance to be tested on the spot. It is done discretely and no one need ever know that you have been tested.

To reduce the ongoing battle health trusts face of getting people to get tested, sexually active teenagers should be tested at least once a year. Doctors empathise with the confidence issues people face in this situation and aim to make the process as comfortable as possible.

Not getting treated for Chlamydia in Colchester, Harwich and Clacton can have serious consequences, not just for yourself but also for your partner. It can be easily passed on through unprotected sex and can affect your future fertility, leading to a premature birth or ectopic pregnancy. There’s a risk of it being passed on to newborn babies if the mother is carrying the disease, so if you are pregnant get tested and receive treatment if necessary.

However, prevention is better than the cure, so to avoid contracting Chlamydia always remember to use a condom when having sex. This is the safest way to ensure you don’t contract it or pass it on to a partner and just because you have had it once doesn’t mean you won’t get it again. Every time contact is made there is a risk.

It’s also important to discuss your sexual history with your partner before being intimate for the first time and remember that your future health and fertility can depend on not taking risks with your sexual health.

Find out more about Chlamydia tests in Colchester by visitng http://www.essexhealth.co.uk/

# # #

Mosaic Publicity is one of the largest and most successful PR and marketing agencies in East Anglia, delivering creative campaigns for our clients.