STUDENTS are being offered an embarrassment-free opportunity to be screened for a silent, but deadly, sexually-transmitted infection.

Nurses were on hand in the physics department toilets at the University of York offering people simple urine sample tests for Chlamydia, which is increasingly common among young people.

The screening was organised by York University Students' Union (YUSU) in conjunction with Yorscreen, which is based at the Family Planning Clinic, in Monkgate.

John Rose, YUSU education and welfare officer, said: "People are inevitably embarrassed by sexual health and we are trying to make it as easy as possible."

He said the screening had been timed to fit in with the gestation period of the disease following Christmas and New Year. If the trial is successful, further screenings may be arranged.

It is thought that one in ten sexually active young women is infected with Chlamydia, which is easy to treat with antibiotics if detected. The infection often shows no symptoms, but can cause infertility, pain, ectopic pregnancy and infection in babies if left untreated. Two years ago medical experts believed at least half of sufferers in York were unaware they had infection, putting themselves and their partners at risk.

Kerry Wheeler, head of planning at Selby and York Primary Care Trust, said she hoped the screening programme would hopefully pick up the infection before it became a major health problem for sufferers.

She said: "Students are a more sexually active population base and this scheme is targeting them at the right age to raise awareness about not only Chlamydia, but also unprotected sex."

A University of York spokesman said it was supportive of the screening programme. He said: "We want to encourage students to take responsibility for their health and general well-being, and this is an initiative which will help them to do that."

Updated: 10:21 Thursday, January 27, 2005