The Big Screen hits Bury

Date published: 21 June 2010

Across Bury, sexually active young people aged under 25 are being encouraged to get tested for an STI (sexually transmitted infection) which if left untreated can lead to infertility.

Chlamydia is the most common STI and most people who have it don’t know they’ve got it. Left untreated, chlamydia can lead to serious long term health complications.

Chlamydia affects both men and women, and you don’t need to have had lots of sexual partners to be at risk.

The test for chlamydia is simple and painless, it involves giving a urine sample, no examination is needed. Getting tested is completely confidential.

Getting the test is simple and convenient, visit ruclear.co.uk for information about local clinics, or request a home testing kit over the phone or by text.

To help raise the profile of chlamydia and how to get tested, health staff in Bury have launched The Big Screen. The Big Screen is the name given to a number of open days at Bury’s Young Person’s Advisory Service (YPAS) to promote chlamydia screening to young people aged under 25.

Community Services Bury’s screening team will be at YPAS on Parsons Lane on Saturday 26 June 2010 to promote The Big Screen, and offering chlamydia screening from 10am to 4pm.

Deborah Lindars, Chlamydia Screening Lead for Community Services Bury said: “The test for chlamydia is free and painless, the simple test also checks for gonorrhoea and you will get your results within 2 weeks. You can even get the results by text message if you prefer. Chlamydia is easily treatable with antibiotics and if you require treatment, you won’t get charged for your prescription. Pop into YPAS on 26 June and get tested. Alternatively find out where else you can get tested or order your kit at a time that is convenient for you by visiting the web site for more information.”

Without treatment, chlamydia can cause very serious long term health complications, such as ectopic pregnancy, pelvic inflammatory disease and an increased risk of miscarriage. In men, it can lead to a painful infection in the testicles and fertility problems.

Deborah Lindars continued: “Prevention is better than cure - if you are going to have sex, using a condom is the best way to avoid contracting sexually transmitted infections.”

Get a discreet test kit sent directly to you by texting the word TEST followed by your name, age and address to 84010 – it doesn’t need to be a home address, it can be a friend’s or relative’s address. Once the test has been sent off, results should be received within two weeks and will be sent confidentially either by text or by post, depending on the individual’s preference. If the test is positive, advice on how to get the short course of antibiotics at no charge to clear the infection will be given.