Did you get Chlamydia this Valentine’s?

Sexual health is the perfect gift for Valentine's Day. Photo: ppbaby888, Flickr

If you got carried away this Valentine’s Day and did not take all of the necessary precautions to protect yourself, do not panic. Hackney has set up a scheme making it easier for residents to get tested for the sexually transmitted disease Chlamydia and to help those infected get treatment as soon as possible.

City and Hackney NHS are urging the borough’s residents to make use of its free testing programme in an attempt to highlight the importance of testing for Chlamydia.

One in 12 Hackney residents under the age of 25 tested positive for Chlamydia this year. Known as “the silent infection” it is usually symptomless but can result in infertility if untreated.

“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.”

The free test which detects sexually transmitted infections such as Chlamydia and Gonorrhea is available to everyone aged 16 to 25 throughout England.

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 www.checkurself.org.uk.

Channel 4’s Embarrassing Illnesses video on Chlamydia testing

One Response

  1. Free Chlamydia Test February 24, 2010

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