PREGNANT women living in Exmouth can get free Chlamydia home screening kits from the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital as part of its maternity care. The RD & E is offering the kits to all pregnant patients and their partners aged between 16 and 25. Anna Ta

PREGNANT women living in Exmouth can get free Chlamydia home screening kits from the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital as part of its maternity care.

The RD & E is offering the kits to all pregnant patients and their partners aged between 16 and 25.

Anna Taylor, Chlamydia Link midwife at the hospital, said: "There is a huge stigma around Chlamydia and people are often embarrassed about taking the test but they really shouldn't be.

"You take the test away and do it in the privacy of your own home and then post it off in the pre-paid envelope.

"It is quick and absolutely painless and your results can be texted confidentially to you. We are not here to judge anyone, just to help and ensure that our patients and their partners are as healthy and safe as possible.

"About 75% of women and 50% of men show absolutely no symptoms of having Chlamydia, so it is worth taking the test.

"This is a perfect opportunity to get that extra reassurance and to make sure that everything is healthy for you and baby."

If undiagnosed, Chlamydia can cause a variety of problems for a mum and baby including premature labour, or low birth weight. If left untreated, it can also cause infertility. Chlamydia can also be passed on to the baby during birth and cause severe eye infections and pneumonia.

Anna added: "The purpose for screening is not about finding out how many sexual partners someone has had, nor is it about embarrassing the patient.

"There is absolutely nothing to be embarrassed or ashamed about.

"You only need to sleep with one person, one time to catch Chlamydia and the damage it can do can be irreversible. It is only about finding if you have an infection and treating it quickly and safely if you do."

For more information, call (01392) 284965