– If it is the only way you get young people to test, then it is better to test yourself than not to. This is stated by medical students Ola Vikheim and Mari Schmidt Furuli. Several players offer quick tests for the venereal disease chlamydia. These tests answer if you are infected within minutes. – You should also test yourself properly, if you are going to use them. At least you have to keep in mind that such quick tests are not as safe, that they can simply show the wrong answer, says Furuli. – You must not take it as a firm truth that you do not have chlamydia because the test is negative. Several members of a girl group on Facebook warn against using the Gamydia fastest tests after experiencing incorrect answers. Chlamydia most widespread chlamydia is the most widespread STD in Norway. In 2023, 28. 159 infectious cases were reported. Measured by cases per capita, most in Finnmark, Oslo and Troms. According to the Institute of Public Health’s annual report for blood and sexually transmitted infections, 1108 cases of chlamydia were reported in Troms. What is chlamydia? Klamydia is a common sexually transmitted infection, especially among sexually active under 25 years. Studies show that about one in 20 in this age group has chlamydia at all times. The infection can sit in urethra and rectum, as well as in the cervix and fallopian tubes in women and in the bites of men. How is it infected? Chlamydia is infected by sexual contact via mucosa in the genitals or rectal. The bacterium can also be transmitted through oral sex, but such infection probably plays little role in the spread of infection. What is the symptoms? The time from infection to symptoms (incubation time) is 5-14 days. Many of those infected with chlamydia have little or no symptoms. Women may have symptoms in the form of vagina and minor bleeding between menstruation. Men can get discharge from the urethra, frequent urination and inflammation of the bite. What is the treatment? Chlamydia is treated with one week’s cure antibiotics. It is important not to have intercourse until the week treatment takes place and until a permanent partner is completed. This also applies to examination as part of infectious tracking. Vikheim has a clear idea of why young people choose to buy the quick tests, rather than testing themselves at the health station. – It’s easier and faster. I don’t think it’s more hocus pocus than that. They want a quick answer, he says. Furuli, on the other hand, emphasizes that it is both cheaper and safer to test at the health station, to get a more reliable answer. – The duty of confidentiality among health professionals is also required by law, she says. Leader of the student organization MSO Tromsø, Ola Vikheim. Photo: Ulvhild Søyland Due / news False Security Health nurse at HFU in Tromsø, Merete Nypan, thinks it is unfortunate that young people buy quick tests that can provide incorrect answers. – If there are quick tests that answer after 15 minutes, then I would be skeptical of it, she says. However, NYPAN is not critical of all types of self -tests for STDs. – Tests you can buy at a pharmacy or other places where they are sent to a laboratory I think is safer. But it assumes that you follow the instruction manual and do so in a timely manner. Health nurse, Merete Nypan, feels that young people are aware of the test opportunities both at the health station and at power. – We received almost 3007 tests last year. Photo: Linn Merethe Ophaug / news Like the students, NYPAN says it is safer to go to the school health service, health station or GP. – There they meet professionals who can guide how to conduct the tests. It is important for the test results to be reliable, she says. The health nurse believes the reason why some young people choose to buy quick tests is about being more anonymous. – Should not replace the doctor’s visit The store chain Normal has sold chlamydia tests for women for about a year and a half. According to Normal Norway, Thomas Harsvik, the chlamydia tests are part of their width range and not among the bestsellers. – Compared to the sale of birth control as condoms, sales of condoms are many times higher than these tests, says Harsvik. Harsvik emphasizes that the purpose of the chlamydia tests is to give customers a quick response on suspicion of infection. – In any case, this should not replace a doctor’s visit. We always recommend seeking a doctor if you have symptoms, and of course if the test shows positively, he adds. Nypan, reacts in particular to how much some quick tests cost. – Since it is free, one would think that the threshold was low to come here. Photo: Linn Merethe Ophaug / news can infect several Vikheim and Furuli that the young people they come into contact with have different levels of knowledge about sexual health. – I have the impression that there are often several things that the students have never heard of when we visit schools in the districts, says Furuli. The health nurse warns against blindly relying on the hot tests. Sexually transmitted infections can often be symptom -free, which allows you to be infected without knowing it. – Then you can risk infecting more, which of course is unfortunate, says NYPAN Health Station for Youth (HFU) at Tvibit is a free health service for anyone between 13 and 25 years. Photo: Linn Merethe Ophaug / news Monday to Thursday can be tested for sexually transmitted diseases. Photo: Linn Merethe Ophaug / news Self -tests for chlamydia and gonorrhea are available on toilets on the ground floor. Photo: Linn Merethe Ophaug / news She therefore advises everyone to test herself two weeks after having unprotected sex. – Healthcare professionals have a duty of confidentiality. This means that it is safe to test at the health station. We hope and think it is not so small to test here, she says. – It should not be small, and it applies to both young and young adults. Published 10.03.2025, at. 11.50
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