One in Four Students Contract an STI in Their First Year of University
Up to a quarter of students report having contracted a
sexually transmitted infection during their first year at university, it has
been revealed.
The figure illustrates both the importance of safe sex and
regular sexual health check-ups (such as using free online Chlamydia testing
service www.freetest.me).
Research carried out by Student “dating" website Shag
At Uni found that 9 out of 10 students didn’t practice safe sex by using
condoms with the majority of their partners. Almost three quarters admitted
most of their sexual encounters took place while they were drunk, and more than
half said they could not remember who passed the infection on to them.
The survey also revealed 23% of students had caught an STI
from a sexual partner during their first year of studying at university. A
further 21% admitted contracting an STI after their first year at university.
When asked to divulge which sexually transmitted infection
(if any) they had caught during their time at university, Chlamydia emerged as
the most likely STI, with 59% of students admitting they’d caught it, with
herpes and genital warts following behind with 18% and 14% respectively.
The most diagnosed STI in the UK is Chlamydia, and it’s more
prevalent in those under 25 years old, with 1 in 12 testing positive for the
infection. Chlamydia has no noticeable symptoms in the majority of cases, yet
left untreated can cause serious health problems in later life including
infertility.
Condoms are the only method of contraception that can help
protect against STIs and unplanned pregnancy.
Students – enjoy sex but also play safe, and take back
control of your sexual health - get tested for Chlamydia at www.freetest.me!