Chlamydia has been increased in Australia
Unnerving new research published at the Australasian Sexual Health Conference 2009 has exposed alarming statistics concerning the growing problem of Chlamydia in Australia.
The study focused primarily on travellers, targeting more than 430 backpackers picked at random from numerous hostels scattered across Australia. The test subjects were made up of a roughly equal number of men and women, and people from the UK made up 40% of the total number of travellers.
Each person was quizzed about their sexual activities and drinking habits and then tested for Chlamydia. The results gave a clear indication of the increase in STD's ‘down under'.
3.9% of the female backpackers tested positive for Chlamydia, compared to 3.1% of the men. Meanwhile, a further 10.1% of the females admitted to having had the disease in the past, along with 7.6% of the males. These results are far above what the national average should be.
The Medical Director of The Northern Sydney Health Service Dr Davies was extremely concerned by the results claiming, "If you add the past proportion to the current you have an "ever" Chlamydia figure of … 10.7% for the men, and 14% for the women…This is in men and women who have an average age of 23 to 24, so it's fairly high."
The details of the study shine a light on the increasing problem of Chlamydia in Australia. It found that not only was binge drinking a severe problem, with 33% of men and 28% of women regularly drinking twice the recommended intake of alcohol, but also that the sexual lifestyle of the test subjects was also having a negative impact.
During their interviews 31% of men claimed to have had a sexual encounter en route to Australia, with 60% of these encounters happening without a condom. Once in Australia the majority found new sexual partners (64% of men and 53% of women) with men having on average 2.8 sexual partners every three months and women having just fewer than 2.
Chlamydia is a real problem across the world, but it has become particularly serious in Australia with more than 58,400 cases in 2008 alone. There have even been cases of animals being infected, most famously Sam the Koala who was rescued from the bushfires last February but has since died due to complications bought on by Chlamydia.
Chlamydia, commonly referred to as ‘the clap', is an STI caused by a tiny bacterium called Chlamydia trachomatis. It can be transmitted during vaginal, anal, or oral sex, and can be passed from an infected mother to her baby during childbirth. The few symptoms of the virus in women include cystitis, change in vaginal discharge and mild lower abdominal pain. Unfortunately these are all synonymous with menstrual side effects thus explaining why the virus is often considered symptomless.
Chlamydia is not fatal in humans but left untreated it can have far reaching consequences. Although there are no visible symptoms it can cause infertility in women. Chlamydia has been known as the ‘silent epidemic' because 70% of women and 50% of men experience no warning signals or visible signs.
The latest Australian research will add fervor to the STD Screening drive, which has already had a huge level of success in the UK. The efforts of the screening service has produced some of the most promising figures in the country with 35,745 people being tested in 2008 alone. One of the biggest successes this year in encouraging young people to get tested was at Newcastle's Evolution Festival. In a two-day period more than 2000 of the target group were tested.
The development of effective home testing kits has revolutionised the sexual health screening industry. The test for Chlamydia is quick, easy, and confidential. Simply take 10 minutes out of your day to take the test. One urine sample shows if you've got Chlamydia and it can be easily treated with antibiotics. Home testing kits are now available over the counter and in all STI clinics where one can also be treated for any other common STI such as gonorrhoea or genital warts.
Making these tests widely and easily available is removing the stigma of embarrassment from the process and encouraging more young people to take action and protect themselves from both contracting and spreading STDs. Ideally all sexually active young people should have a Chlamydia test every year, or when they change sexual partners.
The study focused primarily on travellers, targeting more than 430 backpackers picked at random from numerous hostels scattered across Australia. The test subjects were made up of a roughly equal number of men and women, and people from the UK made up 40% of the total number of travellers.
Each person was quizzed about their sexual activities and drinking habits and then tested for Chlamydia. The results gave a clear indication of the increase in STD's ‘down under'.
3.9% of the female backpackers tested positive for Chlamydia, compared to 3.1% of the men. Meanwhile, a further 10.1% of the females admitted to having had the disease in the past, along with 7.6% of the males. These results are far above what the national average should be.
The Medical Director of The Northern Sydney Health Service Dr Davies was extremely concerned by the results claiming, "If you add the past proportion to the current you have an "ever" Chlamydia figure of … 10.7% for the men, and 14% for the women…This is in men and women who have an average age of 23 to 24, so it's fairly high."
The details of the study shine a light on the increasing problem of Chlamydia in Australia. It found that not only was binge drinking a severe problem, with 33% of men and 28% of women regularly drinking twice the recommended intake of alcohol, but also that the sexual lifestyle of the test subjects was also having a negative impact.
During their interviews 31% of men claimed to have had a sexual encounter en route to Australia, with 60% of these encounters happening without a condom. Once in Australia the majority found new sexual partners (64% of men and 53% of women) with men having on average 2.8 sexual partners every three months and women having just fewer than 2.
Chlamydia is a real problem across the world, but it has become particularly serious in Australia with more than 58,400 cases in 2008 alone. There have even been cases of animals being infected, most famously Sam the Koala who was rescued from the bushfires last February but has since died due to complications bought on by Chlamydia.
Chlamydia, commonly referred to as ‘the clap', is an STI caused by a tiny bacterium called Chlamydia trachomatis. It can be transmitted during vaginal, anal, or oral sex, and can be passed from an infected mother to her baby during childbirth. The few symptoms of the virus in women include cystitis, change in vaginal discharge and mild lower abdominal pain. Unfortunately these are all synonymous with menstrual side effects thus explaining why the virus is often considered symptomless.
Chlamydia is not fatal in humans but left untreated it can have far reaching consequences. Although there are no visible symptoms it can cause infertility in women. Chlamydia has been known as the ‘silent epidemic' because 70% of women and 50% of men experience no warning signals or visible signs.
The latest Australian research will add fervor to the STD Screening drive, which has already had a huge level of success in the UK. The efforts of the screening service has produced some of the most promising figures in the country with 35,745 people being tested in 2008 alone. One of the biggest successes this year in encouraging young people to get tested was at Newcastle's Evolution Festival. In a two-day period more than 2000 of the target group were tested.
The development of effective home testing kits has revolutionised the sexual health screening industry. The test for Chlamydia is quick, easy, and confidential. Simply take 10 minutes out of your day to take the test. One urine sample shows if you've got Chlamydia and it can be easily treated with antibiotics. Home testing kits are now available over the counter and in all STI clinics where one can also be treated for any other common STI such as gonorrhoea or genital warts.
Making these tests widely and easily available is removing the stigma of embarrassment from the process and encouraging more young people to take action and protect themselves from both contracting and spreading STDs. Ideally all sexually active young people should have a Chlamydia test every year, or when they change sexual partners.
