THOUSANDS of chlamydia testing kits will be mailed out to young people in south Essex in the next few months.

NHS South East Essex is sending out the kits as part of a campaign to get youngsters to look after their sexual health.

One sexually active young person in 14 is said to have chlamydia, making it one of the most common sexually-transmitted infections.

Most people suffer no symptoms, but if left untreated, the disease, can lead to pelvic pain, ectopic pregnancies and infertility.

Everyone aged between 18 and 24 in south-east Essex will be sent a kit, asked to carry out a simple test and post it back to the trust.

Dr Andrea Atherton, from the trust said: “The kits are discreet, easy to use and involve a simple, painless procedure. I hope young people will use them.

“The benefits of taking a test far outweigh the risk of having an untreated infection.”

If the test proved positive, a course of antibiotics would quickly solve the problem, she added.

Anyone who is not sent a kit can get one free by texting the word, KIT, with their name, age and address to 80010 or visit ing www.ruclear.nhs.uk Texts are charged at standard network rates.