STI understanding ‘on the rise’

Understanding of the sexually transmitted infection (STI) chlamydia has improved over the past five years, government statistics have revealed.

As the most common STI in England, chlamydia is also one of the most problematic for the reproductive system as between ten and 30 per cent of women with the infection develop pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).

If untreated PID can lead to permanent damage to the reproductive organs and cause infertility.

A national screening programme for the infection was implemented in 2001, with full screening in England taking place from April this year.

According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), there has been a “sharp increase” in the proportion of people who now know that chlamydia is an STI.

Among men this proportion more than doubled in the past five years, rising from 35 per cent in 2000/01 to 79 per cent in 2005/06.

More women now recognise chlamydia as an STI and have a greater awareness of the infection; in 2000/1 65 per cent of women correctly identified chlamydia as an STD whereas in 2005/6 91 per cent were able to do so.

Responding to the statistics, Lisa Power, head of policy at Terrence Higgins Trust, which campaigns for HIV, Aids and STI awareness, said: “We’re very pleased the message about chlamydia is getting through.

“This shows that health promotion campaigns can work. However the UK still has the highest teenage pregnancy rate in western Europe and sexually transmitted infection rates overall continue to rise.

She added: “Young people must be taught the skills they need to protect themselves, not just from unwanted pregnancy, but also from sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV. People need to understand the devastating impact that poor sexual health can have on their lives and take as much care to prevent STIs as to prevent pregnancy.”