The ‘ silent’ sex disease blighting 1 in 10 lives
Health chiefs admit ‘hidden reservoir’ of chlamydia cases in under-25s
ONE in ten young people is infected with chlamydia, the sexually transmitted disease which can destroy a woman’s fertility, a screening programme has revealed.
But experts fear the toll may be much higher as promiscuity is fuelling an epidemic.
The Department of Health admitted yesterday there is a ‘ hidden reservoir’ among 16-25 year- olds who have not yet been screened for chlamydia, which is known as the ‘ silent infection’ as it often has no symptoms.
More than 78,000 youngsters have taken tests since the National Chlamydia Screening Programme was launched in England in 2003, with more than 8,000 proving positive.
Overall, cases of chlamydia soared past the 100,000 mark for the first time between 2003 and 2004 while the total number of sexually transmitted infections has reached three- quarters of a million.
Chlamydia is the most commonly diagnosed STI, with the number of cases trebling in ten years, twothirds of them in men and women under 24. Last year more than 1,000 cases were found in girls of 15 and younger.
If left untreated, it can trigger pelvic inflammation in women that can make them infertile. Victims are also more liable to an ectopic pregnancy, which develops outside the womb and may be life-threatening. Even when treated, chlamydia can cause long-term problems. The first year of the Government’s programme targeting young men and women led to 18,000 people being screened, with 60,698 tested in the second year.
The national programme now covers 25 per cent of primary care trusts in England, encouraging under-25s to come forward for testing, with full coverage due by 2007. A report released yesterday by the Department of Health says: ‘The focus of the programme is to extend chlamydia screening to the under- 25 population who otherwise would not have been tested as this population represents a potential “ hidden reservoir” of infections.’
Free testing is offered by some GPs, community workers and pharmacists, with a new London- wide service being launched at a Boots store yesterday by Public Health Minister Caroline Flint.
Family campaigners claim young people should be encouraged to delay sexual activity to protect them from STIs and the long-term health consequences. A study last week showed young Britons are sexually active earlier than in other countries, at 16 on average, while teenage pregnancy rates are higher than the rest of Europe.
The longer the time between first having sex, and marriage or live-in relationship and babies, the larger the number of sexual partners and the greater the risk of STIs, said the study.
Robert Whelan, deputy director of the think- tank Civitas, said: ‘This is closing the stable door after the horse has bolted.
‘More young people are having early sex with multiple partners which is causing this epidemic of infections.
‘We need the urgency that was attached to the original Aids campaign – which we always knew would affect far fewer peo-
CHLAMYDIA is a sexually
transmitted infection caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis.
It infects the cervix in women, although the bladder can be infected in both sexes. Often it presents no symptoms unless there are complications – by which time permanent damage may have been done.
If there are symptoms, an infected woman may have a slight increase in vaginal discharge, lower abdominal pain, irregular menstrual bleeding and pain during sex. Men are likely to suffer a white, cloudy discharge and pain on passing urine.
Chlamydia can be easily detected using swabs or urine ple than the thousands getting chlamydia every year. Young people need to know chlamydia can make women infertile and they are at a high level of risk. These figures are undoubtedly the tip of an iceberg as they don’t cover the whole country.
‘The Government’s strategy to reduce teen pregnancy concentrates on long-acting contraception and morning-after pills. But neither method prevents STIs so young people need to be persuaded of the benefits of delaying sex.’
Caroline Flint said: ‘ We have made it clear that tackling the top five sexually transmitted infections is a priority for the Government.
‘ That is why we are making tests and treated with antibiotics and there are long-term health risks caused by leaving the infection untreated.
It can lead to Pelvic Inflammatory Disease in women, which can cause infertility and abdominal pain. Complications in men are rarer but it may cause swelling of the testes and joint inflammation.
Chlamydia is now the greatest single cause of infertility and ectopic pregnancy in women but research from Sweden shows it also affects the ability of sperm to swim.
Even when only the male partner was affected, it reduced the chances of a couple conceiving by 33 per cent after three years. both screening and testing services more accessible for the under- 25s, offering them in places outside traditional health care settings such as universities, pharmacies and armed forces bases.’
Norman Wells, director of Family and Youth Concern, said: ‘ While there is value in programmes aimed at the early detection and treatment of sexually transmitted infections, the sexual health of young people will continue to suffer unless we address the root of the problem.
‘ In view of the high rates of reinfection, chlamydia screening will be of limited value unless it is accompanied by changes in sexual behaviour.’
j.hope@dailymail.co.uk