THE rate of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) is so high in St George and Sutherland Shire that young people should be tested every time they change partners, say health professionals.
The call came after new figures showed that up to 5 per cent of young, sexually active people in the area may have the STI chlamydia.
Chris Carmody, senior staff specialist of sexual health at St George and Sutherland hospitals, said the area's nightclubbing culture contributed to the number of people infected with STIs.
"Studies have shown that binge drinking leads to higher rates of sexual risk taking and young people need to be mindful of this,'' he said.
Dr Carmody said many residents were infecting their partners "unknowingly''.
"Most people with chlamydia don't initially display symptoms but can still transmit the infection,'' he said. "Eighty per cent of women and 50 per cent of men who have chlamydia don't even realise it.''
Chlamydia can cause infertility or pregnancy complications among women and urethritis among men.
"The only way you can be sure that you are free of STIs such as chlamydia is to have regular health checks,'' Dr Carmody said.
He said testing for chlamydia involved a simple urine test and treatment "can just be a matter of taking tablets''.
Douglas Knox, senior health promotion officer at South Eastern Sydney and Illawarra Health, said he was worried about the number of people from culturally-diverse backgrounds who were not being tested for STIs.
"The culturally and linguistically diverse population in St George and the shire is markedly underrepresented at sexual health clinics,'' he said.
Dr Carmody and Dr Knox said another problem in southern Sydney was the number of young homosexual men who were not receiving regular STI checks.
"Unfortunately, it seems that homosexual men in the suburbs are less aware of certain risks they face because they are not constantly bombarded with safe-sex message like homosexual men in the city,'' Dr Knox said.
The director of community health at the AIDS Council of NSW, Nick Corrigan, said the organisation was expanding safe sex promotions "beyond gay venues and the gay press''.
"We are working with local area health services to promote the safe sex message to as many gay men as we can,'' Mr Corrigan said.
Do you think enough young people consider their sexual health?