The Norfolk and Waveney Chlamydia

Screening Programme - free, easy and

confidential chlamydia and gonorrhoea

testing for unders 25s! 

What is all the fuss about chlamydia and gonnorhoea ? Are they such a BIG deal?

Chlamydia is the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI) in the UK

One in Ten young men & women under the age of  25, who have been tested, have it.

The problem is that 50% of men & 70% of women would have no symptoms. So most of you would not know you had it. 

Chlamydia is a bacterial infection that is transmitted through unprotected vaginal, oral, or anal sexual intercourse & also genital contact with an infected partner.

Untreated Chlamydia can lead to complications such as pain, especially in the testes, lower tummy, & joints. It is the main cause of sexually acquired arthritis (SARA) and Reiter¡¯s syndrome usually affecting young men, which can cause pain in the joints & soreness of the eyes & the urethra. Another complication of Chlamydia is infertility in both men & women (being unable to have children)

Symptoms may show up 1-3 weeks after coming in contact with Chlamydia, many months later, or not until the infection has spread to other parts of your body.

If you do get symptoms you might notice: 

• Unusual vaginal discharge or discharge from the penis
• Pain when peeing or having sex
• Bleeding after sex or between periods
• Lower abdominal pain or painful testes (balls)
• Pain in joints

If you have any of these. Go to see your GP or the local  GUM/Sexual Health Clinic for diagnosis & treatment.

 Are you all clear on Gonorrhoea?

Gonorrhoea is the second most common bacterial sexually transmitted infection in the UK after Chlamydia

Gonorrhoea is easily passed on from one person to another during sex & anyone who is sexually active can get it and pass it on. You don’t need to have lots of sexual partners to get it.

The bacteria that causes gonorrhoea is usually found in the semen & vaginal fluid of infected men and women &  can live in the cells at the entrance to the womb (cervix), the tube where urine comes out of (urethra), the back passage (rectum), the throat & occasionally the eyes.

 Untreated gonorrhoea can cause pain & serious health problems such as pain & swelling of the testicles & infertility in men. In women, blocked tubes, ectopic pregnancy & infertility. Chlamydia & Gonorrhoea can infect babies during childbirth: they can get conjunctivitis (sore eyes) &/or pneumonia in the first 6 weeks of life.

Signs & symptoms can show up 1-14 days after coming into contact with gonorrhoea, but may not show for many months, or until the infection spreads to other parts of your body.

About 10% of infected men & 50% of infected women will not have any symptoms.

If you do have any symptoms you might notice some or all of the following:

• An unusual discharge, which may be thin or watery, or yellow or green, from the vagina or tip of the penis.
•  Pain when peeing.
• Lower abdominal pain or painful balls (testicles)
• Irritation or discharge from the back passage (rectum)
• Bleeding between periods

If you have any of the above symptoms you need to consult your GP or the local GUM (Genital Urinary Medicine) clinic as soon as possible for further investigation, testing and treating.

The chlamydia screening programme offers free and confidential tests for chlamydia and gonorrhoea and is aimed at anyone under 25 years old.  The test is simple to do and you can do it in the comfort and privacy of your own home!

The chlamydia screening programme in Norfolk & Waveney screens for chlamydia & gonorrhoea at the same time. The screening is voluntary & you do not need to have one if you don’t want to. You can also have a test for Chlamydia but refuse one for gonorrhoea.

How do I get my test kit?  There are 4 easy ways to get your free and confidential DIY Chlamydia Screening Kit. You can either text, e-mail or telephone us with you name and address details and we’ll pop it in the post.

1. Text: “screen” to 80010

2. E-mail: cso@norfolk.nhs.uk

3. Telephone: 01603 221830

4.  log on to www.areyougettingit.com

Is the test reliable?  The test is very accurate but no test is 100% and rarely the result can be wrong. One of our Sexual Health Advisors will be happy to discuss this with you.

What is the test? The simple urine test is painless & free. You will do the test yourself and do not need to see a health professional.

Doing the test - The test will arrive at your address in a plain grey plastic envelope. It comes with instructions & everything you need to carry out the test. The kit will also contain another pre paid envelope with a transport case to post your test to the laboratory.

You must read & follow the instructions carefully.

 How do I get my result? - The test results are sent directly to the Chlamydia screening office. If the result is negative you will receive a text stating ‘result negative keep safe’ If the result is positive a Sexual Health Advisor will contact you directly – usually by telephone, and inform you of the result & arrange a mutually convenient time & place for an appointment for treatment.

What is the treatment for Chlamydia? Treatment is given by the Sexual Health Advisors & will usually consist of 4 antibiotic tablets which are taken at the time of consultation.

What if I have Gonorrhoea? - If your test is positive for Gonorrhoea you will need to have a confirmation test & be treated at the GUM clinic but we will arrange an appointment for you. At the GUM clinic you will be asked about your partner/partners to ensure they are treated.

 After treatment you must not have any sexual contact, even using condoms, until your treatment is complete usually 7 days. This time will vary according to the medication & you will be advised about this at the consultation.

Will I need to tell my partner if my test is positive? It is important to inform your recent partner/s because they may have Chlamydia & could re-infect you or someone else. If you would find this difficult to do this yourself, the Sexual Health Advisors would do it for you. This would be confidential & the person would not be informed who had chlamydia & who had given their name. It is actually a thoughtful thing to do for someone.

Follow up - With your agreement, the Sexual Health Advisor will ring you two weeks after treatment to ensure that you had no adverse effects from your treatment & that you followed your treatment plan.

How can I prevent getting chlamydia & gonorrhoea or the complications of the infections? Everyone needs to take responsibility for their own sexual health. DO NOT rely on others.

To help to prevent chlamydia & gonorrhoea & the complications of the infection:-

• Use condoms
•  Each time you have a new partner both of you   should have a chlamydia test before beginning a sexual relationship.
• Do not share sex toys unless you are sure that you & your partner do not have chlamydia.
• Have a Chlamydia test at least once a year or more frequently according to the risks you are taking.