Students: Get Tested Summer 2013!
Students - whether in your first or final year of University you should always be keeping an eye on your sexual health. The summer vacation is a great time to get tested for chlamydia, whether you are working, travelling, returning home or graduating.
This summer freetest.me wants you to get tested for Chlamydia with our 'Students: #GetTested Summer 2013' campaign. We want you to get a clean bill of sexual health for next year and help you get the most out of sex. There has never been a better time to get tested: put the past nine months of studying and partying behind you and take control of your sexual health.
Why should students get tested for Chlamydia this summer?
Chlamydia is the most common STI in the UK, and students in particular are at high risk of contracting Chlamydia: high rates of sexual partners and activity during University increases your exposure to Chlamydia. 64% of all Chlamydia diagnoses in 2012 were with people under 25 years old, and 1 in 12 young people test positive for the infection! During your time as a student you are probably more likely to contract Chlamydia than at any other point in your life!
Unlike other STIs, Chlamydia is easy to pass on or pick up unwittingly because it's often impossible to tell if you or your sexual partner has been infected.
The Chlamydia infection has no noticeable symptoms in 75% of women and 50% of men, yet left untreated can cause serious health problems in later life including infertility.
The only way to know if you don’t have Chlamydia and avoid these long term problems is by getting tested.
While we find the summer months are quieter with less people getting tested, the percentage of our patients that find they test positive for the infection remains consistent all year round. Chlamydia is still prevalent during the summer months, making testing is just as important throughout the year as it is during term time.
Regular Chlamydia testing is essential!
You should order a free test if:
- you have had a new sexual partner since your last test
- you have not had a Chlamydia test for over a year
- you have never been tested and are sexually active
Whether you have had a test before or not most people under 25 should get tested for Chlamydia on a regular basis, either after each new sexual partner or every year. Getting tested at the end of each academic year in the summer allows you to take full control of your sex life: make this summer your time you get tested for Chlamydia.
If you fall into one of these categories you should order a free Chlamydia test this summer, but don’t feel worried or embarrassed: our test is free, easy to use and confidential, and the infection is easily treated with a simple course of antibiotics.
Even if you are not at University over summer the freetest.me service covers large areas of the UK: if you are at home there is a good chance you will be covered - simply enter your postcode on our website, www.freetest.me, to see if you are eligible. Our test kits can be easily used in the comfort of your own home.
Students – enjoy sex and use the summer break to take back control of your sexual health at www.freetest.me!
Join the freetest.me online community to find out more about STIs, Chlamydia testing and how to practice safe-sex.
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