Don’t let your Valentine’s gift be chlamydia, says Hackney NHS

Photo: fRandi-Shooters

You may be giving more than just roses this Valentine’s Day, warns the local health service as its chlamydia testing scheme gets underway.

According to NHS City and Hackney, this year one in 12 residents under the age of 25 who took the test subsequently tested positive.

However, anyone in England aged 16 to 25 can get a free test for this sexually transmitted infection and in Hackney, the test also detects gonorrhoea.

Almost a quarter of Hackney residents aged 16-25 were tested last year, and of those, one in 12 were found to have chlamydia. Most of them had no idea they had it – because there are no symptoms.

It is estimated that nationally one in ten sexually active young people have chlamydia, known as “the silent infection”. If left untreated, it can spread to other parts of the body and cause pain – especially in the abdomen – and may lead to infertility.

“The good news is that it can be diagnosed easily, and can be treated with free antibiotics – once you know you have it,” said Mike Spraggon, Chlamydia Screening Coordinator at NHS City and Hackney.

“The test is free, painless, confidential, and you can do it yourself, meaning there’s no need to be examined.”

You can get a test from your GP, or from any of NHS City and Hackney’s sexual health clinics. Alternatively, postal test kits are available from most pharmacies in Hackney, or you can have one sent to you by visiting the Checkurself website.

More information on local sexual health clinics and general sexual health here.

Chlamydia is the most commonly diagnosed sexually transmitted infection (STI) in England, affecting both men and women. You don’t need to have a lot of sexual partners to be at risk.

Find out more here.

Using condoms every time you have sex can reduce your risk of getting or passing on chlamydia and other sexually transmitted infections.