A new campaign has just been launched encouraging young men in Argyll & Bute aged 16 – 24 to get tested for chlamydia and gonorrhea. The scheme, run by Terrence Higgins Trust Scotland and funded by NHS Highland, aims to reduce undiagnosed sexually transmitted infections (STIs) amongst young men because research suggests they are much less likely to get checked out.
Chlamydia is the most common STI, affecting around one in ten young people. In most cases it has no symptoms – so you could have chlamydia and not know it. Whilst some people have no symptoms at all others have tell-tale signs which include pain when urinating or during sex, bleeding after sex and pain in the pelvis or lower abdomen. If untreated, chlamydia can cause serious health problems including infertility in men.
THT is encouraging men to order a free testing kit by visiting http://www.tht.org.uk/free. The test is quick and easy. It involves taking a urine sample which is then sent off in a freepost envelope to the lab, results are available in 1 to 2 weeks. For those who test positive for chlamydia or gonorrhoea, we’ll discuss the easiest way to get treatment.
Katrina Mitchell, Health Promotion Officer at Terrence Higgins Trust Scotland said: “Chlamydia is at its highest level ever in Scotland with a 7% increase on last year alone. Most people taking a test at the moment are women so we need to do more to encourage men to get checked. That’s why we’re sending out test kits to make it as easy as possible for men to get checked out. We know it can be awkward to get to a clinic, so as well as the postal kits we’re also visiting bars and pubs so that men can take the test there and then.”
From July THT will also be out at pubs, clubs, colleges, community centres, places of work and sports and leisure centres, inviting young men to take the test.
