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In an age where a "good night out" is often characterised by excessive drinking and consequent loss of inhibitions, one thing often leads to another, with the result that revellers can end up taking home more than they bargained for.
If you've consumed more alcohol than was good for you during a social event and then had a sexual encounter with someone you didn't know very well, there is a chance that you may have contracted Chlamydia or another STI.
Chlamydia is passed from one person to another via unprotected vaginal, oral or anal sex. It is one of the UK's most common sexually transmitted infections, and medical experts estimate that up to 10% of sexually active young people may be infected at any one time.
Whilst the majority of sufferers may exhibit no symptoms at all, others do experience difficulties. For example, women may notice a change in vaginal discharge or find it sore to pass water or have sex. They may also bleed in between periods or after sex. For men, possible symptoms include discharge from the penis, pain in the urethra or shaft of the penis while urinating, and pain or swelling of the testicles.
If your partner has tested positive for Chlamydia or you've had unprotected sex and you think that there's even an outside chance you could be suffering from Chlamydia, this article contains both good news and bad news for you.
The bad news is that if Chlamydia is left untreated, it can have serious consequences, including ectopic pregnancy, infertility, arthritis and chronic pain. The good news is that nowadays Chlamydia is easy to diagnose by means of a simple test, and - better still - that subsequent treatment is straightforward and effective.
So what do Chlamydia tests actually involve? Well, if you're female, there are two possibilities. Sometimes, all that is required is for a sample of your urine to be tested. In other cases, the testing process may involve a nurse or doctor taking a swab from your cervix during an internal examination.
As for the menfolk, tests vary depending on personal circumstances. For heterosexual males, a genital examination is carried out, with a swab being taken from urethra. However, if a man has engaged in anal sex with another man then the swab may be taken from inside the anus.
If either the man or woman being tested has conjunctivitis at the time of testing, then the eyes can be swabbed instead.
With one in ten people in the UK currently affected by Chlamydia, it is advisable for as many under 25-year-olds as possible to be tested regularly. If you fall into this age category, health experts recommend that you get tested once every year - or every time you change partner.
Remember that as the majority of people with Chlamydia exhibit no symptoms of the infection, despite the fact that they are infected, you could easily catch Chlamydia without ever knowing.
And as this particular infection is one of the major causes of infertility, if you want to avoid problems of this nature in the future, it's wise to take action now. Adopting an "it could never happen to me" approach is something you might well regret a few years down the line.
About this Author
Increasing public awareness of sexually transmitted infections and modern-day social trends has led to an increase in the demand for beauty skin cares. If you're in any doubt, get tested.
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