WOMEN in Warrnambool and Moyne Shires have chlamydia at rates of double the state average.
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According to the Victorian Women’s Health Atlas 25.7 per cent of 10,000 women in Moyne and 19.4 per cent of women in Warrnambool had the sexually transmitted disease.
Women’s Health and Wellbeing Barwon South West acting CEO Justine Devonport said the increased numbers of women diagnosed with the disease were women 25 and over with the largest cohort of those affected being women aged 40 and over. She said Corangamite and Glenelg shires were both on par with the sate average which sat at 16.2 per cent of 10,000 people for men and women.
According to the Health Atlas, Chlamydia was the most frequently reported notifiable infection in Australia. The disease can lead to serious health outcomes in women including pelvic inflammatory disease, which can cause infertility and chronic pelvic pain. It can also increase a women's risk of pre-term labour and the infection can be transmitted to a baby during vaginal birth.
Ms Devonport said it was crucial both men and women were tested for the disease because there were few noticeable symptoms.
“It can lead to fertility issues later in life if it’s not caught early,” she said. “It’s easy to have it checked and easy to treat.” She said her organisation was committed to improving the sexual and reproductive health of women of all ages, which included increased access to contraception.
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