4:23pm Friday 27th August 2010
By David Hemming
HEALTH experts in Somerset say 'worrying' levels of binge drinking among young people could increase their risk of catching sexual diseases.
New figures from The Health Protection Agency show the number of people in the county picking up sexually transmitted infections is below the national average.
But Sara Dove, NHS Somerset's chlamydia screening manager, is this week warning the figures could rise as binge drinking is rife in the county.
She said: “We are concerned about the harmful levels of alcohol consumption amongst some young people.
“Binge drinking often leads to personal injury and for some young people unsafe sex - sex without a condom.
“Whilst the numbers of people in Somerset testing positive for sexually transmitted infections is lower than the national average, men and women need to appreciate that unprotected sex and sexually transmitted infections can lead to long term fertility problems and even HIV and AIDS.
“Chlamydia is still the most common sexually transmitted infection in the UK with 1 in 12 sexually active young people aged 15 to 24 being infected and over half having no symptoms.
“Recurrent infections or chlamydia left untreated can cause long term fertility problems in both men and women, therefore young people are being encouraged to test every year and every change of partner.”
The HPA's study includes figures for chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis, herpes, warts and acute STIs.
The South West Strategic Health Authority has now formed the Office for Sexual Health to provide high quality services to prevent and treat STIs.
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