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Burstow Tackles Minister on STDs
April 30, 2003 12:00 AM
Local MP Paul Burstow will tomorrow (Thursday 1st May) quiz Ministers about the prevalence of Sexually Transmitted Diseases in women and will highlight the fact that STD rates are soaring especially in younger women.
Mr Burstow will address his concerns to the Women's Minister during questions. He will point to the recent research that showed that the most recent £47.5 million allocated for the Government's Health Strategy will not even cover the Chlamydial screening programme costs.
The local MP has is set to seek assurances that as much is being done in the borough as possible to reduce the amounts of Sexually Transmitted Disease.
Paul Burstow MP said:-
"In women, untreated Chlamydial infections can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease. In men, untreated Chlamydial infections may lead to pain or swelling. Left untreated, these complications can prevent people from having children."
"The worry is that too many of our young people are becoming complacent about safe sex without realising the dangers they are exposing their health to. Until Ministers realise the extent of the epidemic of STDs that are blighting our younger generation, thousands more of our youth will be left infertile.
Ends
Notes to editors
Mr Burstow has the first question of Questions to the Minister for Women on Thursday 1st May 2003 in the House of Commons and will press Ministers on their commitment to programmes to improve women's sexual health.
Chlamydia is the most common bacterial sexually transmitted infection (STI) in this country, with 71,125 diagnoses in GUM clinics in 2001. Highest rates are seen in young people, especially women under 24 years. In 2001, 1% of the 16 to 19 year female population, seen at GUM, in England, Wales and Northern Ireland was diagnosed with chlamydial infection. Genital chlamydial infection is an important reproductive health problem, because 10-30% of infected women develop pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). A significant proportion of cases, particularly amongst women, are asymptomatic and so, are liable to remain undetected, putting women at risk of developing PID. Screening for genital chlamydia infection may reduce PID
What is Chlamydial Infection?
Chlamydial ("kla-MID-ee-uhl") infection is a curable sexually transmitted disease (STD), which is caused by a bacterium called Chlamydia trachomatis. You can get genital chlamydial infection during oral, vaginal, or anal sexual contact with an infected partner. It can cause serious problems in men and women as well as in newborn babies of infected mothers.
How Can I Prevent Getting Chlamydial Infection?
You can reduce your chances of getting chlamydia or of giving it to your partner by using male latex condoms correctly every time you have sexual intercourse.
If you are infected but have no symptoms, you may pass the bacteria to your sex partners without knowing it. Therefore, any doctors recommend that anyone who has more than one sex partner, especially women under 25 years of age, be tested for chlamydial infection regularly, even if they don't have symptoms.
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