A local NHS Trust’s Sexual Health Service and Chlamydia Screening Programme Team is ahead of its screening targets after attending seven Freshers’ Fairs across Bournemouth and Poole recently.

Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust’s team has been busy targeting hundreds of students, attending Bournemouth University and local colleges, encouraging them to get tested for the sexually transmitted infection, Chlamydia.

The team, based at The Junction in Bournemouth, managed a record 393 screens in just one day alone, a record for the service.

Sexual Health Nurse, Benita Fillingham, explained: “The response at the Freshers’ Fairs was really encouraging – young people (under 25) who are sexually active are at the highest risk of chlamydia infection and so we were keen to present the facts to local students.”

Chlamydia is the most common bacterial sexually transmitted infection in the UK, affecting both men and women. Many people with chlamydia have no symptoms, but left untreated, chlamydia, can lead (in women) to infertility, ectopic pregnancy and chronic pelvic pain. In men it may cause urethritis and epidydimitis. In both sexes it can cause arthritis if left untreated.

Due to the lack of symptoms, a large proportion of cases remain undetected - but infection can be quickly diagnosed with a simple urine test undertaken by the young person themselves and then treated easily and effectively with anti-biotics.

Benita added: “The current positivity rate of chlamydia is approximately five per cent, with our team beginning to see a drop in infection rates. However, there is still a lot to be done, particularly with increasing awareness of the infection amongst young people.”