By NICOLE FERRIE

SEXUALLY transmitted infection rates are rising across the Loddon Mallee region, with the silent STI chlamydia causing concern among health professionals.
Bendigo has one of the highest rates of chlamydia for regional areas.
Infection rates of chlamydia, one of the most common sexually transmissable diseases, particularly among young people, have jumped 25 per cent across Victoria since 2005.
More than 11,000 cases were reported throughout the state last year, with the Loddon Mallee region recording a six per cent increase.
Alarmingly, syphillis infection rates have soared 240 per cent in Victoria in the past two years.
According to Country Awareness Network executive officer Adam Wright, the trends are alarming.
“Many STI’s don’t have symptoms,” he said.
“Chlamydia is the real concern in regional and rural Victoria.
“It’s so infectious and also silent, quite often there are no symptoms and if left untreated it can lead to more serious consequences.” In women, the result could be pelvic inflammatory disease, chronic pain and/or the inability to get pregnant.
If noticed early, chlamydia can be treated with a single dose of antibiotics while advanced infections and pelvic inflammatory disease in women may need longer courses of antibiotics.
Mr Wright said people carrying untreated STI’s were also 10 per cent more likely to contract or pass on HIV.
He said Valentine’s Day was a timely reminder for those who were sexually active to have a sexual health check.
“With romance being the topic at the moment we need to remember it’s not all good,” he said.
“The new message is that if you are sexually active you need to get a sexual health check up at least once a year, or more often if you have more than one partner.
“It might be a little bit embarassing, but it’s part of being a responsbile sexually active adult.”