Wrap Up And Stay Sex Safe: Chlamydia Cases Increase By 20 Per Cent

The party season may be in full swing, but one women’s group is advising young people to rubber up and stay safe.

Levels of sexually transmitted infection chlamydia have risen by 21 per cent in Dublin in the past year.

The Dublin Well Woman Centre is warning Irish women to wrap up and stay safe with a condom this winter.

Chlamydia, which is primarily a young person’s infection, is the most common STI here but most of us might not even know we have it.

One in three adults has probably had the infection but in nine out of ten cases there are no obvious symptoms.

If left untreated in women, it can lead to infertility, pelvic inflammatory disease and ectopic pregnancy. In men it can cause painfully swollen testicles and arthritis.

Wrap it, don't regret it...

A total of 227 positive chlamydia infections had been so far diagnosed in 2012 beating full-year totals for each of the last three years, 187 in 2011, 220 in 2010 and 219 in 2009.

Dr Shirley McQuade, of Well Woman Centre, says correct use of a condom will prevent people from getting chlamydia.

She told the Irish Sun: “It is very concerning that this infection is on the rise after the amount of resources that have gone into promoting a ‘safe sex’ message.”