BURY Sexual Health Service is urging people to get tested for National STI Day.
National STI Day takes place on January 14, two weeks after the Christmas and New Year party period, when many people have unprotected sex.
The day was established in 2010 to get people thinking about their sexual health and to encourage people to get regular sexual health checks, as more and more people are contracting STIs and the infection rate is rising each year.
Karen Tipping, Service Manager at Virgin Care’s Bury Sexual Health Service, said: “It’s so important to get tested and after the Christmas period when a lot of people have unplanned or unsafe sex it’s even more important.
“Party season can lead to unprotected sex which increases the risk of catching sexually transmitted infections like gonorrhoea and chlamydia leading to possible complications in later life, like infertility.
“Common STIs like chlamydia can take two weeks to be detectable so the middle of January is the perfect time to get tested, and it’s a month before Valentine’s Day so it’s best to know you can celebrate knowing you are free of infection.”
Bury Sexual Heath Service, based at Townside Primary Care Centre, in Knowsley Street, provides treatment, advice on sexual health issues, emergency contraception and free condoms.
For more information or to access services visit www.sexualhealthhub.co.uk
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