- Check your bits

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How do i get my results?
A health advisor from the Chlamydia
screening office will contact you to let you
know.
This will either be by phone, text or in
writing - depending on which you have told
us is the best way to contact you.
Please note: if your test result is positive
and we have been unable to contact you via
your chosen method, we may have to send
a letter.
What’s your
number?
If you have not heard from us 10 working
days afte
after you take your test, please contact
Central O
Office on 0191 229 2958 Monday
to Friday between 9.00am - 4.30pm.
What happens if i don’t treat my
chlamydia infection?
Where to get tested?
Chlamydia often doesn’t have any
symptoms; most people don’t know they
have it. If left untreated Chlamydia can
cause serious health complications for
both men and women including infertility
(can’t have children).
www.checkyourbits.org or text “Gremlin”
followed by name and address to 80010 or call
0191 2292958 (texts charged at standard network rate)
The good news is its easy to get tested, and
if you do have it, getting treatment is just
as easy.
If you’re under 25 and would like to order an
easy to use home testing kit visit:
Chlamydia screening is available at all sexual
health and contraceptive services across
Newcastle, North Tyneside and Northumberland.
You can also get tested at your GP practice or
local pharmacy, or call 0191 229 2958 for your
nearest testing site.
If you are 25 or over or require a full sexual
health screen, call your local sexual health clinic:
Newcastle 0191 229 2999
Where
W
Wh
her
he
ere
re can i find out more?
North Tyneside 0191 297 0441
More inf
information about Chlamydia is
available on our website:
Northumberland 01670 543131
www.checkyourbits.org
www.ch
HoW many sexual partners
Will you Have before
you catcH cHlamydia?
or
the screening office on
or by telephoning
tel
0191
0
229 2958
it’s your health, it’s your test,
it’s your future - Get tested
remember. Every
time you have a sexual
contact wearing a
om significantly
l
ly
condom
ces the risk of
reduces
ting Chlamydia
getting
l
ly
or other sexually
nsmitted
transmitted
ections or
infections
oming pregnant.
becoming
If you would like
more information
aboutt Chlamydia
visit
checkyourbits.org
or call us on
0191 229 2958
What’s your
number?
Newcastle Hospitals Community Health
x106271_nuth_p2_sw_x106271_nuth_p2_sw 14/12/2011 12:01 Page 2
What is chlamydia?
Chlamydia is the most common sexually
transmitted infection in the UK that primarily
affects the sexual organs. The infection is spread
through any kind of sexual contact with a partner
where bodily fluids may be exchanged.
Who gets it?
should i be embarrassed
to take a test?
Not at all. The NHS is offering tests to all under
25s in the UK free of charge so we can reduce the
number of people who have it. No one wants to
have an STI (Sexually transmitted Infection), so taking
a test simply makes sense if you’re sexually active.
Male and female, gay or straight, anyone
who’s sexual active. Under 25s account for 65%
of the UK’s Chlamydia infections which means
that young people are at high risk of contracting
the infection.
What does the test involve?
How do you get it?
We will ask you some basic details (which are
totally confidential) when you send or give your
sample back for testing. We will notify you of
your test result by your preferred method; either
by text, phone or letter. Most people ask for a text
to be sent to their mobile phone. We won’t give
your result to anyone except you.
Chlamydia is spread by sexual contact including:
• Penetrative sex (vaginal and anal)
• Oral sex
• Exchanging bodily fluids through intimate
touching
• Sharing sex toys
• Mother to baby during birth
How do you know if you have it?
You don’t, as there are often no symptoms so the
best way to make sure is to take a test.
Testing is really easy, you simply provide a urine
sample (pee in the pot). The test goes off to the
lab and we will then let you know if you have
Chlamydia.
If you get the all clear and don’t have Chlamydia
the message will say “Good News your test result
is Negative”. If you have Chlamydia or need to
take a second test to be sure, the message will
ask you to please call an alternative number.
How to take your test
Before you do, it is important that you have
not had a pee for at least one hour. For girls it
is best to avoid taking the test during the
heaviest part of your period.
• The first thing you need to do is fill in the
white section of the form, you must tell us
your full name, date of birth, contact details
(including postcode), otherwise the sample
may not be tested. We will not share this
information with anyone without your
permission.
• Complete and remove the pink sticky label
from page 2 of the test form and place this
onto the clear pot, then pee into this pot.
• Put the pee pot into the bigger container
then into the plastic bag.
• Your test and form must be posted in the
p to the laboratory.
plastic FREEPOST envelope
What happens if i do
have chlamydia?
Chlamydia can be treated with a course of
antibiotics.
Treatment is FREE OF CHARGE and we can
talk to you about where you’d like to get
treated – totally in confidence.
• We also ask everyone who has Chlamydia
to stop having sexual contact for a week
after their treatment so we can be sure the
infection has gone.
• We ask about your previous sexual partners
and may talk to you about getting them
treated too. You don’t want to take your
treatment only to be infected again straight
away if your partner has it.
• The more people we can test, the more we
can prevent Chlamydia being passed on and
reduce the risk of people being infected
with it.
• If we have difficulty contacting you or are
concerned that you have not received your
treatment we may involve other health
professionals to help us to help you.
can i get chlamydia again?
Yes. You can become re-infected with
Chlamydia if your partner has not been
treated or if you have sexual contact
with a new partner.
The effects of Chlamydia develop more
rapidly and become more serious with
repeat infections. To prevent re-infection
use a condom every time you have sex.
Condoms also help protect you from
other sexually transmitted infections
and can prevent unwanted pregnancies.
Make sure you and any new partner get
tested.
What happens if i don’t
have chlamydia?
We will let you know and there won’t be
any need for treatment. We recommend
you take another test if you change sexuall
partners in the future or annually if you are
in a long term relationship.
Remember. This test is only for Chlamydia.
If you do not have Chlamydia, this does not
mean that you do not have any other sexually
transmitted infections.
don’t leave it to luck!
protect yourself
and your partner by
usinG a condom