Personal chlamydia kits offered

Chlamydia is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the UK

Self-testing kits for chlamydia are being offered free to people in Plymouth under the age of 25.

The disease is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the UK. One in 10 sexually active under-25s test positive, Plymouth NHS Trust said.

If untreated, chlamydia can cause major health problems, including infertility.

The kits are available from GP surgeries in Plymouth and the family planning service at the Cumberland Centre as well as over the internet.

When ordering over the web, people can choose to receive their results either by text, e-mail or online results tracking.

Dr Gabriel Scally, regional director of public health for NHS South West, said: "Chlamydia is often seen as the 'silent disease' because the symptoms can go unnoticed, but it can become a serious health problem if left untreated.

"It can be passed on during unprotected sex or intimate sexual contact with an infected partner.

"You don't need to have had a lot of partners to be at risk."