Chlamydia Screening Kits Posted

Walsall residents aged between 20-24 will be receiving a free self testing  Chlamydia screening kit through their door as NHS Walsall aim to raise the awareness  and testing of this Sexually Transmitted Infection(STI).  The kits enable young people to provide a urine sample in the comfort of their own home and simply post it back in the pre-paid envelope provided. The results, which are completely confidential, are then sent to them via a method of their choice for example a text message.  All returned kits will be entered into a free prize draw to win Nintendo Wii.

Heidi Mitchell, Chlamydia Screening Manager for NHS Walsall, said: ‘Chlamydia is the most common bacterial STI amongst young people in England and therefore we would encourage anyone who receives the kit to do the simple test and send it back. Chlamydia often has no symptoms, so it is difficult to know if you have the infection or not and if left untreated it can cause infertility. This initiative is part of a National Screening Programme introduced by the Department of Health ‘

An estimated  1:10 of young people under 25 in Walsall have Chlamydia. It is passed on by both men and women through intimate touching, having unprotected sex, oral sex, and sharing sex toys.  It can be easily  treated with a course of antibiotics, but, if left undetected and untreated, the infection can lead to infertility in women and epididymitis in men, which causes pain in one or both testicles as well as potentially causing serious complications later in life.

For more information or advice about Chlamydia or to get a kit contact The Black Country Chlamydia Screening Programme on 01922 604824 or 0800 694 0104, www.rusureblackcountry.nhs.uk or by email rusure@walsall.nhs.uk