Festive launch for sexual health campaign

The Chlamydia Screening Team Anji Stokes, left, Evie Dale-Beaumont and Jaqui Dewar.

Sexual health workers in Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre are calling for all under 25’s who are sexually active to take a simple test to ensure the are not spreading the disease. The ‘Nobody wants Chlamydia for Christmas’ campaign aims to raise awareness of the sexually transmitted infection (STI) – the most common STI in the UK and most common in under 25s. Most people will have no symptoms so the only way to know for sure is to get tested. Left untreated, Chlamydia can cause health problems such as infertility, ectopic pregnancy and pelvic inflammatory disease. Anji Stokes, project lead in chlamydia screening, said: “Christmas is a time for giving but we want to make sure this year that young people are not giving the unwanted gift of Chlamydia to their partners. Testing is so simple, you can visit your local sexual health clinic, GP or order the test kits online. “There are no downsides to testing as Chlamydia is treatable and if caught soon enough should not have any lasting impact on your health.”

Self-test kits are available at www.best2know.uk or at sexual health clinics.

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