Latest News
marketing & advertising opportunities click the media pack button.
If you have any issues regarding welfare don't hesitate to contact the Students' Union or Student Services.
Peter Johnson| Culture & Diversity Officer: culture-diversity@su.arts.ac.uk
Hidden Marks Website NUS research has revealed that 1 in 7 women students that responded to the survey had suffered serious physical or sexual assault during their time as a student. The NUS have produced a website for these students as we believe that the responsibility for these offences always lies with the perpetrator, and that no woman deserves violence or the threat of violence. The website has advice on how to access support, on your legal rights, information on how to report an offence, and information on how to support a friend.
www.hiddenmarks.org.uk
Chlamydia on the rise after party season
Young people advised to get a sexual health detox
Around 12,500 young people in West London could be at risk from the sexually transmitted infection chlamydia following the Christmas party season, according to a new survey.
The poll, conducted by ICM for NHS Inner North West London shows over two-thirds (69%) of under 25 year olds in Hammersmith and Fulham, Kensington and Chelsea and Westminster say they had unprotected sex over the Christmas party season. Despite the fact that chlamydia is highly contagious, often symptomless and has serious consequences, 60% of under 25s can’t say for certain that they had not contracted the sexually transmitted infection (STI).
Although nearly half of young people who had unprotected sex over Christmas have made a New Year’s resolution to get healthy, few are thinking about their sexual health: 65% did not ask the person they had unprotected sex with about their sexual history, and 70% say they are ‘not worried’ about STIs.
Chris Morgan, Co-Director of Westside Contraceptive Services, who co-ordinate chlamydia screening services across the three boroughs, is urging young people to make a New Year’s resolution to protect their health and get tested for chlamydia.
“Chlamydia is the most prevalent STI in the UK but because it does not have any symptoms often people have it and do not know about it, despite the fact that it could affect their ability to have children."
“Chlamydia is easy to catch but also easily tested for and treated. To get tested you just need to give a urine sample and it’s quickly treated with one dose of antibiotics. If left untreated it can have serious consequences, causing infertility, ectopic pregnancy and pelvic inflammatory disease.”
The research shows that over three quarters (79%) of 16-24 year olds in the three boroughs have never been tested for chlamydia. 82% of males have not been tested and are also much less likely to take responsibility for contraception (14% of males leave contraception to their partner compared to 2% of women).
The National Chlamydia Screening Programme recommends that all sexually active young people have a Chlamydia test every year or when you change sexual partners, regardless of whether they have any signs or symptoms. You can get a free and confidential test from your local GP surgery or at one of the drop-in clinics provided by your local community contraception service – go to www.chlamydiascreening.nhs.uk to get details of where to get a test in your area.
Further findings from the research show:
• 16-17 year olds were most likely not to be able to say for sure that they had not contracted chlamydia over the past 6 months, higher than any other age group (64%)
• 22-24 year olds were more likely than any other group to have had unprotected sex over the Christmas party season (71%)
• 32% of under 25s did not know that you can get tested for chlamydia at a local GP surgery
• 43% did not know that you can get tested for chlamydia at your local family planning clinic/contraceptive service
• 47% did not know that the test for chlamydia is a urine sample
• 26% did not know that in some cases chlamydia can result in men and women not being able to have children
• Under 25s living in Hammersmith and Fulham are more likely to have been tested for chlamydia (34% compared to 22% in Kensington and Chelsea and 13% in Westminster)
