Text a Condom for an ‘in-tents’ Experience

10 months ago 05th Sep 12:39

With sexually transmitted infections on the rise its now become as important as ever to protect ourselves against potentially lethal diseases. Which is why new service 'Text a Condom', is being launched at festivals around the UK.

The service is designed to enable people to get free condoms at numerous points in the main campsite by texting the word 'condom' to 88800.

Condoms are even more essential at a festival than your wellies’ - this is the message that will be spread throughout Bestival this weekend. Festival goers checking out the talent - in more ways than one - will be glad to know that free condoms will be available via the unique service.

Many STIs have no symptoms, so those engaging in festival frolics are being urged to make use of the service to make sure they don’t get more than they bargained for. And whilst they won’t protect music fans from the rain and the mud, using a condom when having sex will ensure that revellers don’t leave the festival with more than just mud in unexpected places!

Bestival Organiser, Rob da Bank said:

“We welcome this initiative, which is a quirky way to encourage festival goers to have safer sex by ensuring that they won’t be caught unprepared. Bestival is one of the most colourful events on the festival calendar and this service keeps us at the forefront of innovative thinking.

So if you find yourself in a sticky spot this month its good to know that nipping out to the local pub is now a distant memory.

SEXUAL HEALTH FACTS AND FIGURES

According to the Health Protection Agency (HPA), the numbers of new diagnoses at genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics in England between 2005 - 2006 show:

• An overall rise in the number of new diagnoses seen in GUM clinics of 2% in 2005 compared to 2006 (from 714,647 in 2005 to 730,324 in 2006)

• Genital chlamydia is the most commonly diagnosed STI in GUM clinics with an increase in diagnoses of 3% from 95,930 in 2005 to 99,230 in 2006.

Warts are the second most common STI with an increase in diagnoses of 3% from 68,701 in 2005 to 70,988 in 2006. The largest increases were seen in the under 16s, 16 – 19s and over 45s.

• Total diagnoses of first episodes of genital herpes increased by 10% (17,618 in 2005 to 19,988 in 2006). The largest increase was seen in women aged 16 – 19 (19.7%)

• Total diagnoses of syphilis decreased by 2% from 2,574 in 2005 to 2,515 in 2006.

• Total diagnoses of gonorrhoea decreased by 1% from 17,702 in 2005 to 17, 445 in 2006. This came on top of a 14% decrease in 2005

• The cumulative total of HIV diagnoses in the UK is 86,783 people since surveillance began in 1982. In 2006, a total of 6,642 new cases of HIV were diagnosed. (HPA HIV New Diagnoses Quarterly surveillance tables UK data March 2007)

and if thats not enough to scare you....

In 2006, 99,230 cases of chlamydia were diagnosed in England, an increase of 27% between 2002 and 2006

• 1 in 10 sexually active young people have chlamydia

• The majority of chlamydia diagnoses are in the 16-24 year age group

• Chlamydia is easy to treat once detected, however at least 70 per cent of women and 50 per cent of men, display no symptoms and so are unaware of their infection.

• In untreated women, infection can lead to serious conditions like pelvic inflammatory disease, which can increase the risk of ectopic pregnancy and infertility. If left untreated, there is evidence to suggest that chlamydia may affect men's fertility as well.