Don’t bring back more than your suntan this summer holiday, warn health experts at ChemistDirect
London (PRWEB UK) 5 August 2013 -- The number of new sexually transmitted infections diagnosed in England increased to almost half a million in 2012, with chlamydia and gonorrhoea fuelling the increase.1
The figures, released by Public Health England (PHE), reveal that the number of STIs diagnosed rose by 5 per cent overall, with the under 25's experiencing the highest rates.
The statistics show that many people are putting themselves at risk through unprotected sex, and health experts are warning holidaymakers not to take risks when abroad this summer.
ChemistDirect Superintendent Pharmacist Omar El-Gohary said: “The best way to avoid getting an STI is abstinence, but if you are going to have sex, condoms are a must.”
“However, it’s important to know that condoms won’t stop all STIs. For example, herpes can be still contracted when using a condom.”
According to the PHE, almost half of all infections were chlamydia, which rose by 46 per cent. Passed on by unprotected sex, it can cause pelvic inflammatory disease and damage women’s reproductive tract if left untreated.
New diagnoses of gonorrhoea rose by 21 per cent, which is of concern to health chiefs because of new reports of a strain of the disease which is resistant to antibiotics.
Under-25's contributed to 64 per cent of all chlamydia and 54 per cent of genital warts diagnoses in heterosexuals in 2012.1
El-Gohary warns that symptoms such as itching, discharge, pain on urination, and abnormal periods for women, could indicate that someone has contracted an STI, and may start two weeks after having unprotected sex.
Anyone who thinks they may have contracted an STI should visit their doctor as soon as possible to seek appropriate treatment.
References
1. http://www.channel4.com/news/chlamydia-sexually-transmitted-infections-gonorrhoea, STIs on the rise among young people in England, 05 June 2013
Samantha Smith, Chemist Direct, +44 1215414952 205, [email protected]
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