STIQ Day campaigns
Friday January 13th, 2012
Local health workers nationwide have issued calls to the public to think about their sexual health over the weekend.
Tomorrow, Saturday 14th, has been designated STIQ Day - one month in advance of Valentine's Day and two weeks after the Christmas holiday.
Experts say this means any infections caught over the holiday should now be detectable.
STIQ stands for Sexually Transmitted Question Day and campaigners are urging the public to question the state of their sexual health.
Dr Tim Davies, from Leicestershire, said: "If your festive season included unprotected sex then you should be thinking about getting tested now. Regardless of how old you are, just one unprotected sexual encounter could have put you at risk of catching an STI.
"Even if you feel perfectly healthy you could still be infected. Getting routinely tested is the only way you can detect an infection. Some sexually transmitted infections have no symptoms and can lay undetected and cause long term serious complication.
"Getting a test shouldn't be embarrassing."
In Bristol public health officials have focused on the problem of chlamydia.
Karl Pye, screening co-ordinator for NHS Bristol, said: “Your new year celebrations may have left you with more than a hangover. If you’ve had sexual contact with someone new or just never been tested you could have an STI. Now is an ideal time to get tested because its 14 days after New Year and infections, such as chlamydia, can take two weeks to show up.
“Chlamydia is very easy to catch but the good news is that under-25s can get a free test from their local pharmacy or GP practice. If you have caught it we can treat it easily with antibiotics."
In Bournemouth, public health consultant Dr Sophia Callaghan said: "Even if you don't have any symptoms you may still have a sexually transmitted infection. Having a test is like having a sexual health MOT; they should be done regularly and will give you peace of mind."
Tags: Fitness | General Health | NHS | Traveller Health | UK News
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