Chlamydia

Chlamydia (genital chlamydial trachomatis) is the most commonly diagnosed bacterial sexually transmitted infection in England, with rates substantially higher in young adults than any other age group. It causes avoidable sexual and reproductive ill-health, including symptomatic acute infections and complications such as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), ectopic pregnancy and tubal-factor infertility.

The National Chlamydia Screening Programme (NCSP) promotes opportunistic screening to sexually active young people aged under 25 years.

In June 2021 changes to the programme were announced with a focus on reducing reproductive harm of untreated infection through opportunistic screening offered to young women aged under 25 years.

UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) recommends that local authorities should be working towards the revised female-only PHOF benchmark detection rate indicator (DRI) of 3,250 per 100,000 aged 15 to 24 (Female).

The following findings are based on 2023 data:

• In the Lancashire-12 area, the proportion (19.3%) of the female population aged 15 to 24 screened for chlamydia, in specialist and non-specialist sexual health services, is significantly lower than the England rate (20.4%). In Blackburn with Darwen (17.9%), also, this proportion is significantly lower than the England rate and in Blackpool (22.7%) it is significantly higher than the England rate.
• Compared to 2022 (14.7%), there has been an increase in the proportion of 15-24-year-old females screened for chlamydia in the Lancashire-12 area, overall, and in its 12 districts.
• Preston (25.4%) has the highest screening rate (15-24 year old females) in the Lancashire-12 area and its rate is significantly higher than the England rate. Pendle (12.5%) has the lowest screening rate in the Lancashire-12 area and it is lower than the England rate.
• Lancashire-12 area's chlamydia detection rate per 100,000 15-24-year-old females (1,864) is lower than the recommended target of 3,250 and similar to the England rate (1,962).
• Blackburn with Darwen's chlamydia detection rate per 100,000 females aged 15 to 24 (1,966) is similar to the England rate and Blackpool's rate (3,094) is better than the England rate.
• In 2023, there were 3,345 chlamydia diagnoses in the Lancashire-12 area. Lancashire-12 area's chlamydia diagnostic rate (267 per 100,000 population) is lower than the England rate (341).
• Blackburn with Darwen's chlamydia diagnostic rate (352) is similar to the England rate, while Blackpool's chlamydia diagnostic rate (533) is higher than the England rate.
• Preston's chlamydia diagnostic rate (421) is significantly higher than the England rate and Lancaster's chlamydia diagnostic rate (326) is similar to the England rate; in the other ten districts it is lower than the England rate.

For county and unitary data and further information please see below

Page updated June 2024