Men can also run into trouble. But, women often have no reason to suspect they have chlamydia so do not seek advice at one of these clinics. Apart from sexual health experts, many doctors do not have sufficient knowledge and training to suspect that symptoms can be caused by chlamydia and to do an appropriate test. More importantly, health-care professionals are often unaware of how common the problem is and that it does not usually cause symptoms. An education campaign for professionals is badly needed.
Some clinicians find it difficult to talk about sex or to put their patients at ease.
Most general practitioners are so pushed for time that the thought of embarking on a discussion about a sexually-transmitted infection is a bridge too far. The best place to get help and advice is from the health advisors who are part of the team working in sexual health clinics. To find your nearest clinic, check the phone book or contact the Association of Genitourinary Medicine or the LoveLife programme of Health Promotion England. More recently, new tests have been developed which are done on urine samples, or on swabs that a woman inserts into the vagina herself, which is then put into a container and sent to the laboratory. These new tests avoid the need for an intimate and uncomfortable examination and makes testing much easier for women.