In an effort to raise community awareness of sexual health, the Bendigo Loddon Primary Care Partnership’s Sexual Health Task Group is facilitating the region’s third annual ‘Sexual Health Awareness Month’.

To coincide with Valentines Day, the month will begin on Tuesday February 14th and will run through to the end of March 2012.

Louise Holland, Chairperson for the Sexual Health Task Group and spokesperson for Sexual Health Awareness Month, today said, "Valentine’s Day is the perfect time to remind people to look after themselves and their partners. As Sexually Transmissible Infection rates continue to rise in Victoria, the Sexual Health Task Group is aiming to remind the community of the importance of practising safe sex and having regular sexual and reproductive health check-ups and testing".

Sexually Transmissible Infections are the main preventable cause of infertility, particularly in women. Annual surveillance data collected by the Victorian Department of Human Services indicates some alarming trends, with Chlamydia continuing to be the most frequently reported Sexually Transmissible Infection (STI) in Victoria in 2010. Chlamydia affects both genders. The highest rates are in the age group of 15-24 year olds.
Risk factors for chlamydial infections include a relatively high number of sexual partners, a new sexual partner, and not using barrier protection.
The Sexual Health Task Group is supporting a range of local activities for schools, the local community and health professionals, including those working with newly arrived refugees and migrants in the region.