The Doctor Ricardo Jorge National Health Institute (INSA), through the Department of Infectious Diseases, is promoting the first study on the prevalence of four microorganisms responsible for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in mainland Portugal.
Infections caused by bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis (Genital Chlamydia), Neisseria gonorrhoeae (Gonorrhea), Mycoplasma genitalium and by the parasite Trichomonas vaginalis (Trichomoniasis) are the four STIs under study and whose prevalence data in Portugal are currently almost non-existent.
The study is aimed at young people aged between 18 and 24 years, a population that is at higher risk of developing serious clinical complications resulting from STIs.
The screening can be carried out free of charge, voluntarily and anonymously, in any laboratory of the Germano de Sousa Laboratory Medicine Center, in the district of Faro: Lagos, Ameijeira de Cima, Portimão, Faro, Olhão, Albufeira, Vila do Bispo and Lagoa.
The analysis is carried out through a urine collection. Participants can request access to their results.
“Most STIs do not have symptoms, which means that young carriers, in addition to not seeking a diagnosis, due to ignorance, transmit the infection to their partners. It is necessary to act in terms of prevention and awareness, especially because the young population is also unaware of the consequences of STIs on their reproductive health. Untreated STIs can cause pelvic inflammatory disease and even infertility and also increase the risk of acquiring and transmitting HIV/AIDS”, reveals Maria José Borrego, Researcher and Coordinator of the National Reference Laboratory for Sexually Transmitted Infections at INSA.
The study is coordinated by the National Reference Laboratory for Sexually Transmitted Infections, with the support of the Germano de Sousa Laboratory Medicine Center, bioMérieux and Genomics.
Knowledge of the frequency of these four STIs in Portugal aims to implement prevention actions.
According to the World Health Organization, these four STIs cause more than 350 million new infections a year worldwide, being the most frequent in sexually active young people. Currently, the four most frequent STIs are curable simply by taking antibiotics.
The Doctor Ricardo Jorge National Health Institute (Instituto Ricardo Jorge) is a public body integrated in the indirect administration of the State, under the tutelage of the Ministry of Health, endowed with scientific, technical, administrative, financial autonomy and its own assets.
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