Now called 'The Lifestyle' in the U.S

The practice of having sex with other couples is steadily increasing in Europe and the UK - with the first 'Swingers' train trip now confirmed. It's being claimed that swinging is an effective way to empower women, but others fear it's exploitative and dangerous. Psychosexual Therapist Paula Hall of Relate, and Therapist Dee McDonald, who's also a 'Swinger', join Jenni to discuss whether swinging is harmless fun, or can it pose a profound threat to the stability of a relationship.

Villagers oppose swingers' club

A village pub in Nottinghamshire could become home to the county's first swingers' club. Owners of the Muskham Inn in North Muskham have received plans to turn the pub into a private members club where people meet to share sexual partners. The pub has been empty since February and owners Punch Taverns do not need to apply for a new licence as rules would remain the same for the new club. Residents have said the new club would not be welcome in the village. Strong opposition Ian Harrison, chairman of North Muskham Parish Council said: "We have got a strong community in North Muskham. "We don't want it [the club] here and we are hoping to sit down with the owners of the establishment and convince them that this is not an appropriate site." In a statement, Newark and Sherwood District Council said there was not much they could do to stop the plans as the terms of the licence did not need to be changed. Punch Taverns confirmed they had received an application and were considering the plans. A spokesman from the company said: "The venue will not be open to the general public at any time. "Professionally trained door staff will encourage members to leave quietly and CCTV cameras will be used to monitor all external areas. "Consenting adults will be permitted to use private rooms in strict accordance with the rules of the outlet." Punch Taverns declined a request to identify the applicants and added a decision date had not yet been set as discussions were on-going.

Protest over swingers' club

Protestors say the club is in a residential area More than 500 people have urged council bosses in County Durham to block plans to turn a former Victorian pub into a club for swingers. The derelict King's Head hotel in Stanley, near Durham, is expected to open as a private member's club known as the Love Shack by the end of October. But opponents say the site is close to a children's skateboard park and will be open every afternoon until midnight. The company behind the venue, Archer and Rostron, are meeting with representatives from Derwentside District Council on Tuesday to discuss the plans. The new venue will feature a Kama Sutra room, dungeon and a Bedouin room - complete with scattered cushions and tiny lights representing stars. Respectable people A spokeswoman for the company said: "We are renovating this building, which was in a disgusting state and our visitors will benefit the local economy. "We are perfectly normal, respectable people who just happen to be swingers." But a spokesman for Derwentside District Council said: "We received a planning application for a health club which would have been marvelous for Stanley. "That would have been an asset to a building which is on one of the gateways into the town. "This sort of enterprise does not project the image we want. "We are studying case law to see if there is anything we can do." Durham Police says it is making its own inquiries into the plan.

Sexy swingers await the Queen Flighty dancers

Abigail Yeates and John Zaccarini Organisers of the Millennium Dome's big opening night have revealed the faces, and a lot more, of the dancers who will perform an erotic aerial ballet in front of the Queen. John Paul Zaccarini, 29, and Abigail Yeates, 30, will be dressed only in netting and skimpy black underwear, designed to make them appear naked, during their three-minute interpretation of the Lover's Duet 145ft above the floor of the Dome's central area. The ballet, which shows how a young couple meet, flirt and fall in love, will begin after the singing of Auld Lang Syne in the first minutes of New Year's Day. The dancers will be suspended above the dome's 10,000 guests, including the Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh, the Archbishop of Canterbury and Prime Minister Tony Blair. The Queen: Will she be amused? "The dancers will be wearing so little that to anyone on the ground they will appear naked," said a spokeswoman for the New Millennium Experience Company. "We're expecting it to be very cold in the dome, so it could be quite tough going for them." New Zealand-born Ms Yeates said that "sparks fly" when the couple perform together. "The audiences will see a lot of my legs and thighs, so I'll make sure that I keep moving quickly. "I love working with John Paul - our bodies compliment each other's really well." Mr Zaccarini, said: "Abigail is gorgeous with a very strong and sensuous body. "Although we will fly together throughout 2000, for New Year's Eve we really wanted to take it to the limit. "We've known each other for several years but we've never managed to work together so this millennium may well be the start of something exciting for both of us." Ticket delay The dance will be the centerpiece of the Millennium Show, the live aerial and acrobatic display that will be performed in the dome every day next year. But whether all those invited to the New Year's Eve opening actually get to attend is still a matter for concern. On Thursday, the Mirror newspaper reported that although organisers promised all tickets and passes for the first night would be sent out two weeks before the event - thousands of guests are still waiting for tickets. The paper says the New Millennium Experience Company has set up two collection points at Stratford and Charlton stations, from where guests will travel to the dome. Organisers said they delayed issuing passes for security reasons - but then had problems with the Christmas post. VIP guests, such as Prime Minister Tony Blair and his Cabinet colleagues, were sent tickets well in advance for "security reasons".

What's Wrong With Porn?

Goldie Lookin Chain and Celebrity Big Brother star, Maggot, looks at the arguments for and against pornography. From the HIV scare in LA which shut down the $4.4 billion porn industry last year, to the streets of the UK where hard core pornography is made in bedrooms and vans. This programme discusses adult themes including sexual behaviour and STIs (Sexually Transmitted Infections). For help with issues raised, go to One Life.

The Birds and the Bees

Abi Titmus investigates Sweden's sex education system and asks where are we going wrong in the UK. The UK comes second only to the USA in topping the teen pregnancy league tables. Radio 1 travels to Sweden to see what can be learned from their sex education system, which boasts the lowest figures for teen pregnancy and STDs in Europe, despite many teens leading active sex lives. Warning: This documentary contains some strong language and content of graphic sexual nature.

Sex club scrapped after protests

Protestors said the club was in a residential area Plans for a private sex club in County Durham have been dropped after objections from hundreds of people. A company wanted to turn the derelict King's Head hotel in Stanley, near Durham, into a private member's club for swingers, known as the Love Shack. But councillors received a petition signed by more than 600 people, pointing out the site would be close to a children's skateboard park and open every afternoon until midnight. Now the company behind the project says the development will go ahead - but only as a hotel and spa. However, Derwentside District Council intends to press ahead with a special meeting to discuss the issue. The venue will still have special features like a steam room and spa. But Robin Rostron, of developers Archer and Rostron, said the hotel would no longer promote itself as a venue for swingers. 'Indulge in fantasies' He said: The plan now is to open it as a hotel with spa facilities. "We will not be running the swingers club within it. "We were pretty sure we had the planning regulations on our side and we could have put two fingers up to the local populace and gone ahead with it. "But we have decided now not to organise it as a swingers club. "If people turn up, they will find themed bedrooms, but there are lots of hotels that have themed bedrooms. "There will still be facilities for people who want to indulge in their fantasies." Alex Watson, leader of Derwentside District Council said he was pleased at the latest move. He said: "This is great news for the people of Stanley who had deep anxiety over what was proposed. "However, there are still issues that need to be discussed and we will go ahead with a special planning committee meeting of the council to go through them."

NHS warning of sex risk 'lottery'

Condoms can protect against STIs Thousands of people will contract a sexually transmitted infection this weekend, campaigners have warned. Officials behind the NHS 'Sex Lottery' campaign say there will be 1,440 cases of Chlamydia, 572 cases of genital warts and 207 cases of gonorrhea. They are distributing 50,000 condoms in pubs and clubs this weekend in an effort to encourage people to practice safe sex. Using a condom can reduce the risks of a range of STIs. Figures released by the Health Protection Agency in July showed that the number of people being diagnosed with an STI in England, Wales and Northern Ireland is continuing to rise. Cases of Chlamydia - the most common STI - jumped by 9% last year. The number of people who were told they had syphilis increased by 28%. Raising more awareness about safe sex and distributing free condoms is great Spokeswoman, fpa Overall, 708,083 people in England, Wales and Northern Ireland were diagnosed with an STI in 2003. The Sex Lottery campaign, first launched in 2002, aims to increase awareness of the risks of contracting an STI through unsafe sex. A new series of saucy postcards is being launched this weekend to try to boost awareness further. The Department of Health said it was keen to get the safe sex message out over the bank holiday weekend. "With recent statistics showing an increase in STI rates, the Sex Lottery has launched a dedicated summer campaign to help raise awareness of the risks of unprotected sex," said a spokeswoman. "The message is clear this bank holiday weekend - don't play the Sex Lottery, use a condom." The fpa, formerly the Family Planning Association, welcomed the move. "Raising more awareness about safe sex and distributing free condoms is great," a spokeswoman told BBC News Online. Clinic waits However, she said the Department of Health should also be doing more to help those who believe they may have contracted an STI. Many people who suspect they may have an STI can wait weeks to be seen at NHS genito-urinary clinics. The number of people visiting these clinics has soared in recent years and the NHS is struggling to cope. A recent survey by the fpa suggested that one of the problems is that the clinics are not open long enough. It found that over half the 256 clinics across the UK said they were open for less than 21 hours a week. It also revealed that 16% of clinics had actually cut their opening times compared with two years ago. In addition, just two new clinics had opened across the UK since 2002. "If someone tries to go to a clinic and doesn't get seen, the chances are they will not be back," the fpa spokeswoman said. "They carry on having sex and can transmit their infection to others. "There needs to more investment in these clinics so that people who suspect they have an STI are seen in a timely fashion."

Chile deputies in child sex claim by Clinton Porteous

BBC correspondent in Santiago Three Chilean politicians have been accused of links with a child prostitution ring that is the subject of a criminal investigation. Guzman said the police had videos The accusation was made by fellow politician, deputy Pia Guzman, who said the trio were caught on video at what she called "depraved orgies". After making the accusations in a radio interview - without naming the three - Ms Guzman met privately with the judge in charge of the case. She said two opposition politicians and one government member had been caught on videos of private parties. The events were held at the home of Claudio Spiniak, she said. Mr Spiniak was arrested and charged two weeks ago for sexual abuse of minors and promoting child prostitution and pornography. A 15-year-old boy allegedly told police he had been invited to a party by Mr Spiniak where young boys were paid 30,000 pesos ($46) for sex. New penalties Deputy Guzman said police were in possession of 300 videos, including 80 graphic ones, and the politicians could be seen in some of them. The president of the Chilean Senate and the House of Deputies demanded she reveal the names, but she refused. However, later, she held a private meeting with the judge investigating the case. She left the court saying she had made a full disclosure. The Senate this week approved tough new penalties for paedophiles in the wake of the child prostitution and pornography court case. Judges on the Appeals Court have called an extraordinary meeting for Monday to discuss developments.

Shock tactics to stop teen sex

More teenagers are having sex Teenagers in Singapore are to be shown graphic images of the effects of sexually transmitted infections to try to dissuade them from having sex. Health officials are to distribute a 10-page magazine featuring colour pictures of people suffering from diseases such as gonorrhoea, Chlamydia and syphilis to 15-year-olds around the country. It's very graphic, we want to grab their attention and bring across the dangers Leona Lo The images will illustrate the serious disfigurement that some STIs can cause. There is growing concern about the big increase in the number of teenagers who are engaging in sexual activity. A recent study found nearly one in five Singaporeans aged 13-18 have had sex, up sharply from 3.4% in 1999. Teenage abortions are also on the rise, with 1,698 abortions, or 13% of last year's total being performed on women aged 20 and younger. No condoms A recent global sex survey found one-third of some 870 Singaporeans aged 16 to 30 surveyed practice unsafe sex. Nearly half said they would have sex with a new partner without a condom. The government's Health Promotion Board said it wanted teenagers "to feel comfortable reading about the other side of the sex story." This had to include unpalatable truths about issues such as HIV and other STIs. Spokesman Leona Lo said: "It's very graphic, we want to grab their attention and bring across the dangers. "This is what actually happens so it's not blown out of proportion." But parents and teens shown the new magazine were said to have been shaken by the pictures. Ben Tay, 15, told the Straits Times: "The pictures are gross, but the scarier the better because it's the fear factor that will stop people from taking sex casually." Singapore earlier this year signed up to "No Apologies: The Truth About Life, Love and Sex", a programme launched in the United States that advocates abstinence until marriage. And under Singapore law, people aged under 18 planning to marry must participate in a marriage-preparation programme. However, nearly all 150 brides enrolled in the course in the last two years were pregnant.

Unprotected sex risks young lives

Teenagers are not taking adequate precautions Young people are risking their lives by having unprotected sex, according to research. The Durex Global Sex survey found that more than a quarter of 16 to 20-year old Britons are failing to use condoms when having sex with a new partner. And they experience sex for the first time at a younger age than their European counterparts, at an average age of 16.9 years. More than 18,000 people from 28 different countries took part in the survey which aimed to explore the sexual behaviour of people across the world. 'Real concern' Sarah Rose, Durex UK marketing director, said: "It is a real concern that many people, particularly teenagers, are still not listening to the safer sex message. "Not only are they having sex for the first time at an early age, it appears many are taking risks with their health by not using protection. "They are risking unplanned pregnancies and also increasing the potential of contracting HIV/Aids. If people are having sex they need to be aware of the risks they are taking and how to avoid them Sarah Rose "If people are having sex they need to be aware of the risks they are taking and how to avoid them." The survey also found that it is not just younger people who take risks - 43% of Britons take no protective measures at all. Sexiest city It was also revealed that the average Briton has sex on average 107 times per year and have 8.8 partners during a life-time. This compared to the Americans who have sex 124 times a year and the Japanese who make love just 36 times a year. The Americans have had the most partners - 14.3, the French have had an average of 13.2 partners and the Australians have been with 11 different partners. Paris is considered the sexiest city in the world by 38% of Britons, while 20% prefer Amsterdam. Just 2% think London is the city for them.

Frontline Scotland: Sex Bomb

This is the transcript of the Frontline Scotland programme Sex Bomb broadcast on 15 March, 2001. EUAN MCILWRAITH: Scotland is in the grip of a silent sexual epidemic, and many are unaware of the risks they are taking. In some areas clinics are finding one in four young women are infected by the Chlamydia bacteria that could make them infertile and could be associated with the development of cancer. Dr RAK NANDWANI: Most people haven't heard about some of these newer generation sexually transmitted infections, and again, think that it doesn't apply to them. Chlamydia is one of the things that really does concern me. It's so common I think it's a time bomb. In the long term it's going to cause infertility, pelvic inflammatory disease, and many other complications. EUAN: The Scottish Executive have issued guidelines on stepping up the fight against Chlamydia. But the final say in the allocation of funding and resources rests with individual health boards and trusts. But many don't seem to have heard that Scottish Executive message. So far in Scotland we're failing in the battle against Chlamydia. Thursday night and young people from across Glasgow arrive at Shagtag. The name says it all. It's simple - everyone gets a number when they arrive. If you're attracted to somebody simply jot it down, put down a message, and then stick it up on the board. No ambiguity, no confusion of body language. If you're interested - pick up the tag. And - it works. FEMALE: I put one up for him and he put one up for me. I went and collected mine and met him at the bit he asked me to. INTERVIEWER: What did he write on your message? FEMALE: Let's meet at the bar where you pick the shagtag up. INTREVIEWER: What does the night ahead hold, you've met. You're at Shagtag, does that mean you go and have a shag? FEMALE: No (laughs) No. EUAN: It's an uninhibited sexual market place. So we asked the promoter is it just fun for the young, or encouraging sexual risk taking. RICHARD STARRETT (Promoter, Shagtag): Well, firstly I would say that the people are doing things that we encouraging on safe sex tend to be from the older generation. And with all due respect to the older generation I'm sure that they were doing this when they were our age. Everybody's young, they're having a good time, they're having a good laugh, and for generations gone by that's what every young person has done. That's what you do when you're young. You experiment, you have a good time, you do things that may be you wouldn't do when you're older. EUAN: Those in the club and young women in particular are increasingly at risk from catching Chlamydia, which could have serious effects ten years on. Dr SUSAN LOGAN (Gynaecologist, Aberdeen Hospital): A very common way that it's been described is as a silent epidemic and I think that that's an appropriate label because the vast majority of infections are asymptomatic, and certainly in young women, which is who we've got most information on, it is a very, very common problem - one in 10. And it's frightening to think that¿that the lot of women who are sexually active and believe themselves to be healthy are wandering around with this infection which can have both life threatening and certainly life ruining complications. EUAN: This woman, now in her late twenties, discovered that the Chlamydia she contracted 10 years ago, has now led to those complications. FEMALE: I had one fallopian tube which was completely blocked, and one fallopian tube which was partially blocked. And they said that I had had Chlamydia probably for five years before. They could tell from the extent of the infection that I'd had it for at least five to six years, and at that point I didn't know, I had no idea, there had been no symptoms whatsoever, and at that point obviously it was too late to do anything about it. The extent of the damage was too bad. There was nothing they could do at all. Having the tubes, the damaged very unhealthy damaged tubes has obviously affected the rest of my life now. I was absolutely devastated. It took me a long time to get over that because at that point they told me straight away that I had to think about going on an IVF list for the future, you know, if I wanted to conceive children at some point in the future. I have to come to terms with that, that I may never have children, absolutely devastating news, it was terrible. EUAN: And for her it wasn't the result of a promiscuous life style. Chlamydia needs only one chance to strike. FEMALE: I've only ever had three sexual partners. All long term relationships. You don't have to sleep around and have lots of partners. Your partner just has to have had one other partner, and that partner has had other partners, and then you know, it just spreads like that. And it's something that I never thought I would be at risk from, and it was absolutely the very first sexual relationship that I had that I had Chlamydia. EUAN: If it's detected Chlamydia can easily treated with antibiotics to prevent the spread and long term problems. But getting people to be tested is the hurdle. VD, or clap clinics, haven't traditionally been attractive places to visit. But the groundbreaking Sandyford Clinic in Glasgow is trying a new approach. It's the only clinic of its type in the country. It's aim - to entice young people in particular through their doors to be tested. They want to break down the stigma about sexually transmitted disease. Dr RICHARD HILLMAN (Consultant, Sandyford Institute): There doesn't seem to be a Glasgow word for penis. I get guys coming along and saying 'I've got a problem with my em...em...', and that's as far as you get. And if guys can't even know what word is appropriate to use with ¿. I believe I've heard most of them in my time¿.if guys can't even be comfortable talking about the name it makes it very difficult for them to actually be able to articulate their concerns. A lot of time we spend here is... giving people the space in a confidential supporting way to talk about these things. It makes a huge difference. EUAN: The aim of the Sandyford is to make a trip to the clinic like a visit to the dentist. When you get a new partner both of you go to get the all clear before you have unprotected sex. Greg has been persuaded by his girlfriend to come for a check-up. He's embarrassed and doesn't want to be filmed. DR HILLMAN: Now I need to ask one or two questions here which are a bit sensitive, and I want you to answer them as best you can do for me. When was the last time you had sex? GREG: This morning. DR HILLMAN: This morning, OK, was that the regular partner or casual? GREG: Regular. DR HILLMAN: And how long have you been together for? GREG: Two years. DR HILLMAN: Two years, good. And what sort of sex are you having with your partner - fabulous I'm sure. GREG: Normal. DR HILLMAN: Normal sex, that's vaginal sex? GREG: Yes. DR HILLMAN: Oral sex? GREG: Sometimes. DR HILLMAN: Anal sex? GREG: Never. DR HILLMAN: OK. Do you use condoms at all? GREG: Sometimes. DR HILLMAN: Sometimes. When was the last time you had sex with anyone else apart from your current partner? GREG: Last year we had a fall-out. DR HILLMAN: Last year, sorry. GREG: We had a fall out, so. DR HILLMAN: You had a fall-out. So that would be about a year ago? GREG: Yes. DR HILLMAN: How many partners did you have about a year ago? GREG: About three or four. DR HILLMAN: Three or four. EUAN: For the clinic Greg is a success story. All the tests proved negative and Greg is in the clear. Now he's relaxed and happy to talk about the experience. His girlfriend is still camera shy. What was the run up to actually coming here today? GREG: My girlfriend. She basically wanted us to come. Before I was always saying no I didn't want to go, but I thought I should do it, just get it over the done with. EUAN: So why did you want to come? GREG'S GIRLFRIEND: Because I feel that you should always get yourself checked out to be safe. EUAN: So why were you so worried about coming? GREG: To find out if I had anything, that's basically the worry. After the verdict I was all right. EUAN: How tense was it when you arrived? GREG: I didn't actually want to come, I started swearing and all that it was that bad. But after they checked out, it was just basically how have I not been before. It gave us a, I don't know, a better outlook knowing that being clear is the best way to come. It's not going to be a hassle to come back that way. Sandyford Clinic staff: FEMALE: This is the basic samples we would use for a male client. It's slightly different for a female client, we do a few more tests. In the male client we have the two glass urine tests which is a test for basically non-specific urithritis, and non-gonococcal urithritis. The slide and the Petri plates are a check for gonorrhoea, which we have a result more or less immediately from the lab on the slide. The plate gets sent away for culture. FEMALE: There's a lady who had an appointment for tomorrow. She'd been in the past and she feels that her condition is resolved, so she didn't want to waste her time by coming along. But she didn't really understand some of the implications of it, so she's going to come along anyway to speak to somebody just to explain it all to her. FEMALE: One of things I had help with the doctor is public lice. The doctor fished it out, and got it on the slide, and took it through to give me a result, so he could look under the microscope with it and all that, a monster thing, you know like its claws. EUAN: Was it scary? FEMALE: Not scary, just it really interesting. FEMALE: Every client that comes here get checked for chlamydia, male and female. EUAN: Dr Rak Nandwani is one of the country's leading genito-urinary, or GU specialists. DR RAK NANDWANI (Clinical Director, Sandyford Initiative): One thing that's really been concerning me is that the number of cases of chlamydia had doubled in the last five years. Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted infection that causes symptoms in about half the men that have it, and about a third of the women that have it. In men it might cause symptoms like a painful discharge, pain on passing water, pain in the testicles or the genital area. In women it could be a vaginal discharge, or pain in the pelvis, or even in the tubes. EUAN: Infertility expert, Dr Susan Logan, has been researching the link between increasing rates of infertility, and chlamydia infections. A disease that in many cases acts silently, and goes undetected. DR SUSAN LOGAN: Most people will feel healthy. They may have some minor symptoms. But most people will feel healthy with it. The problem is particularly with women far more than men is that it can be life ruining. And there's a lag time for it in the fact you can be well, and then when you say go on to reproduce, you decide to have a baby, you find that you can't have a baby, and when investigations are done they find that your tubes are blocked, or you go on to try and have family and it turns out that the pregnancy is in the tubes. And these are...ectopic pregnancy can be life threatening, but certainly tubofactor infertility, and infertility in general is life ruining, and that's very important. The other thing it can cause from pelvic infections is painful sex, so that obviously has relationship implications; chronic abdominal pain; irregular bleeding; painful periods, that sort of thing. And women who've had chlamydia in the past certainly are more likely to be seen at their GP surgeries, at gynaecology outpatient clinics to go on and need hysterectomy surgery, that sort of thing. EUAN: But it's not just the serious worries over infertility. A study of 700,000 women in Finland suggests that the chlamydia could be linked to cervical cancer. DR LOGAN: They found that a past infection concurred a significant higher risk of developing invasive cancer of the neck of the womb. Independent of human papilloma which we know is associated with cancer of the cervix, and also smoking which increased your risk. Cancer of the cervix is a sexually transmitted infection. We know that women who have¿.who start sexual intercourse at a very young age, and who have more partners, are at increased risk of it. And that would also put them at increased risk of chlamydia as well. So whether it is a cause in effect, or whether the two just go hand in hand we don't know, but if it builds in another reason why a screening programme, a national screening programme may be appropriate in this country from a long term point of view. EUAN: So, if we're to tackle the problem we need national screening. Countries like Sweden introduced a programme 25 years ago, and cut infertility by 60%. But here, only a handful of clinics offer routine testing and organise the all-important follow-up of partners. If one partner is tested reinfection is inevitable. In the past Sandyford farmed out services to neighbouring health trusts. But due to demand in Glasgow they had to withdraw from places like Paisley who had to set up their own clinic with just one consultant. DR NOREEN MIR (GU Consultant, Argyll & Clyde Health Board): When we first opened we didn't really know what to expect. There was very little advertising of the service. It was really just opened quite quickly. We've been very busy, there's been a consistent high demand for services here. I've looked at the figures for the first six months of the service being opened, and during the first six months I actually found that of men being tested for chlamydia 19% actually had the chlamydia infection. And for women the figure is about 27%. EUAN: And that rate in her clinic is nearly four times the national average. And she believes there could be many more infected people still out there. DR MIR: I think that certainly the chlamydia infection that we're seeing here is the tip of the iceberg. I think there's a large reservoir of infection in the community. People really need to come forward for screening because many of these people would have no symptoms at all. DR NANDWANI: One of the difficulties that occurs that if you see someone in general practice, when you first see them you may not know that they are chlamydia positive, and that's the time that the statistics are compiled, is what did people come along with rather than what their final diagnosis was. I think the other thing that concerns me is that a lot of people with infections just don't go anywhere, either because they don't know they've got them, or because there are no local services. And what's always struck me is every time we open a new service, or launch a new service it's packed out from day one with often minimal advertising, and, you know, these people must be...are out there, and obviously not accessing services. EUAN: But at least Paisley now has a clinic. If you live in many other areas of Scotland it's much more difficult to get access to a consultant. There are only 15 GU doctors in the whole country, most of them in the central belt. For those in the Borders, the Western Isles, Shetland, Dumfries and Galloway, Ayrshire, or Orkney it's a different story. They have no GU consultants. Fife has the highest rate of chlamydia infection in the country, but they only have one GU consultant. According to the Royal College of Physicians there should be at least three. Doctor Carolyn Thompson has been doing her best to provide a service. DR CAROLYN THOMPSON (GU Consultant, Fife Health Board): In Fife we've got very high rates. We've got for women 159 per 100,000 women aged 15-65, which I think is the highest rate in Scotland. I think that is...it sounds dreadful, but I think actually predominantly that's because we've got a very good awareness amongst health care professionals in Fife. I've been here 11 years and during that time I've really been promoting chlamydia testing, and so I've got GPs, gynaecologists, family planning clinics all testing as much as they can, and referring into the GU clinic any positives that they find. So our reported numbers are extremely high. EUAN: Dr Thompson is hampered by another problem. Her rates of detection would be even higher if she was using an up-to-date test. A new urine test introduced two years ago is almost totally accurate. But most trusts are using an older swab test which is only 70% accurate. That means that three in 10 of those tested could actually be infected and go on to infect others. But it's slightly cheaper than a urine test. DR THOMPSON: At the moment this health board has not been able to fund urine testing. As you are aware the NHS is a finite pot, and I've put forward a case for PCR testing for chlamydia, but that has to go along with breast unit /cancer services, a new cardiologist and its prioritisation, and unfortunately at the moment chlamydia testing hasn't received top priority. EUAN: So it's stacking up against you. I mean you've got the highest rates in Scotland, you're here on your own and using an old-fashioned test. DR THOMPSON: We're doing the best we can. EUAN: And Fife is not alone. Our investigations found that none of Scotland's health areas use solely urine tests. At the moment many women and men can't be sure if they're carriers of chlamydia or now, even if they have been tested. DR NANDWANI: I'm concerned about the old test as it missed about 30% of cases of chlamydia compared to the new test. And the difficulty arose for individuals when they came along, they tested positive and their partner was negative, did it mean that someone had been having an extra-marital, or extra relationship? I think the other difficulty is that they may have been given a negative all-clear - and in fact that's still going on - and in fact they really are carrying asymptomatic chlamydia, chlamydia without any symptoms whatsoever and, therefore, are transmitting it to other people, and that's my major concern and I think that's an absolute scandal that that continues. EUAN: The solution to stop the chlamydia epidemic would seem fairly simple - the NHS trusts need to provide more specialist clinics with consultants and more up-to-date tests. Already infertility associated with chlamydia is costing the country dearly. DR LOGAN: It's a very expensive disease indeed, and it's estimated cost to the National Health Service about £200m per year, but that's just an estimate. EUAN: So how aware are those most at risk? We went out on the streets of Glasgow to find out. INTERVIEWER: Do you know what chlamydia is? It's multiple choice OK, is it...an infection; a flower; a girl's name; or a paint colour? FEMALE: What was the word again? INTERVIEWER: Any ideas? FEMALE: I would say a flower? INTERVIEWER: A sexually transmitted infection that may cause infertility, and in Scotland is a common STI. FEMALE: It's a sexually transmitted disease, a most common one isn't it? INTERVIEWER: Well done. MALE: I would go a stomach bug. MALE: It's a flower, a tropical flower or something. EUAN: Safe sex will always be an option for many people, but the explosion in sexually transmitted infection in the 17-25s means that that message of using a condom has been lost for this age group. So, even younger children have to be targeted. Condom / Chlamydia cartoon: EUAN: This group of under-16s in Ayrshire are being taught about sex in a new project to heighten the awareness of possible infection. But does the message work, and should those under the legal age be given such explicit advice? Ayrshire group: MALE: It shouldn't by anything to do with age, it should be how mature you are and how if you feel ready for it or not. There shouldn't be an age on it. MALE: You don't really think about disease and infection unless you're sitting thinking about it, but when you're out with a girl on the night you don't think about it, you just think about getting it done. MALE: They only tell you about the diseases and everything, they don't really tell you the good stuff about it.... FEMALE: ....or the worst...getting pregnant¿. MALE: ...they tell you the bad stuff and that, like the diseases and the pregnancies and everything, and not the good stuff, the thrill and everything. MALE: You just talk about...sex, you don't talk about infections, because that's not what your friends are bothered about. EUAN: So you're more worried about pregnancy than disease? ALL TOGETHER: Ehem, aye.... EUAN: In an attempt to get the message home to children information has become increasingly graphic. The Scottish Executive and Lothian Health now provide material like this to those teaching sex education in schools - for some a step too far, too young. COLIN HART (Director, Christian Institute): Most parents would be really rather alarmed if they actually saw some of these explicit materials that are being proposed. They do actually put ideas into kids' heads which are not there, and we will promote the very behaviour that we're all trying to stop. EUAN: And according to Colin Hart it isn't working, and the only safe sex message is no sex. COLIN HART: We've tried the message of safer sex and it just simply doesn't work. More and more explicit sex education at very young ages is just simply not working. The teenage pregnancy rates have not gone down, neither have the STD rates gone down, or the pregnancy rates gone down, it just simply has not worked. Isn't it about time we started asking whether the experts have been right? Chlamydia rates are up 75% over the last five years according to the executive. Isn't it about time we started asking actually is it working? I don't think it is. Certainly if we followed an absence approach I think we'd see a fall in teenage pregnancy rates and STD rates just as they've seen in other parts of the world where they've followed. EUAN: If you can convince children to abstain, it's almost like kind of blind faith hoping it's going to be all right. COLIN HART: Well it's still true that most of them do certainly before the age of 16. I think there's a very great problem with teaching to the lowest common denominator and assuming they're all sexually active. They're not, and we should discourage them, and we should encourage them to wait, and discourage them from being sexually active. MARTIN RAYMOND (Health Education Board, Scotland): I don't think there's any evidence at all that education about sex will encourage earlier sexual behaviour. In fact the evidence that we do have would point in absolutely the opposite direction. The more sex education that you have available to young people the less likely they are to have early sexual activity. So I think on that basic level the evidence is pretty clear in our mind. I think what is important though is to look at the nature of the material and the appropriateness of the material, that's absolutely critical, but I think that does come down to a trust in the training and the professionalism of teachers who make the choice about what is appropriate material. EUAN: Lothian Health say teachers very much have the final say in what they do and do not use. According to the Scottish Executive the teaching resource in the 5-14 curriculum guidelines are well established packs and have been used for some time without incident. FEMALE: Without a doubt there are girls out there now that have chlamydia and have got absolutely no symptoms, they don't know that they have chlamydia. I'm sure that probably some of my friends have chlamydia and they've got no idea about it. DR LOGAN: If it's as common as one in 10 in the under-20s then I would certainly want to know if I was that one. DR NANDWANI: My dream for Scotland is if everyone can come along. It's a bit like going to the dentist, you know, gum clinics, a bit like going to get your gums checked. If people could come at regular intervals when they felt they needed it, or changed partners, or new relationships, and actually have sexual health MOTs, and they're very straightforward, very easy to do. People just come along, have some tests done, they get same day testing with results the same day, and obviously if anything is picked up we deal with it in a very sensitive way. And I think that's my ambition, and I think it's achievable. EUAN: So where do we go from here? We're in the middle of a silent epidemic, an epidemic which could take years to stamp out. There are no immediate plans for national screening. There's no quick fix for chlamydia. As the debate rages the young continue to party.

Health Millennium safe sex message

Don't get too carried away this millennium, warn experts Britain could suffer a surge in infections if young people do not ensure that their celebrations for the millennium period involve safer sex, warns the Health Education Authority (HEA). Its research shows half of young men in the UK are planning to celebrate at parties, clubs and pubs this New Year. Women are more likely to be staying at home or with friends. Many young people who are going out are hoping that sex will be on the menu. One in 10 men aged 16 to 34 says a new sexual partner is the most important ingredient of a happy new year. Although most people questioned for its survey said they would wear a condom with a new partner, only 37% said they would actually take condoms with them when they go out for festive celebrations. The HEA says the highest levels of unsafe sex take place around Christmas, reflected by peaks in abortions, sexually transmitted infections, and people going for HIV tests in the first quarter of each year . It is predicting a gloomy millennium for many young people if they do not take the proper precautions. The HEA is launching a safer sex campaign on Thursday, urging young people to stock up on condoms and the contraceptive pill before the long New Year holiday kicks in, and shops and sexual heatlh services close down. The HEA is encouraging young people to take condoms with them to parties, and use them to avoid sexually transmitted infections and unplanned pregnancy if they have sex with a new partner. It says one in three 16- to 34-year-olds say they have found a sexual partner at a party. Alcohol As part of its campaign, the HEA is also issuing posters and free postcards aimed at young people who go to pubs and clubs, and running safer sex advertising in music magazines and entertainment guides throughout December. HEA Project Manager Katy Fitzsimon said: "It's clear that a significant number of young people will be out celebrating and looking to meet new sexual partners during millennium celebrations. People who drink may be more likely to have unsafe sex "Even though one of the campaign messages urges people only to have sex if they really want to, our research shows that three out of four young people drink heavily at Christmas parties, and that about one in seven young people have had unsafe sex after drinking alcohol. "At this time of year, an increase in levels of unsafe sex leads to rises in unintended pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections, and worried people seeking HIV tests following the party season. "This year, extended public holidays between Christmas and the millennium are likely to mean closures to sexual health services and places selling condoms. We're urging young people to prepare now so they're able to have safer sex if they meet a new partner during the festivities." The HEA is also asking health workers to remind young people of the need for safer sex in the run-up to New Year celebrations.

World: Asia-Pacific Clampdown on child sex

The new law will also cover sex crimes committed abroad The Japanese parliament has unanimously approved a law restricting the sexual exploitation of children. The law prohibits commercial sex with children under 18, and restricts the sale and distribution of child pornography. It also prevents Japanese tour operators from organising sex tours abroad. Under the new law, those who pay for sex with children can be punished with a fine of up to one million yen ($8,200) or a prison sentence of up to three years. Previously, Japanese law only banned sex for money with those 13 or younger. Criminal complaint The new law also eliminates a previous requirement that victims under 13 must file a criminal complaint with the police before rape charges can be made. However, the often explicit drawings in so-called "manga" comics are not covered by the law to "respect freedom of expression." Correspondents say the vote follows growing international criticism that Japanese inaction on sex tourism and Internet child pornography was allowing the crimes to persist at home and abroad. UN convention Interpol says 80% of the world's child pornography comes from Japan. The new legislation was approved by the Japanese upper house last month and Tuesday's unanimous vote by the 500 members of the powerful lower house means that it now becomes law. The Japanese Justice Ministry said on Tuesday that the law, bringing Japan into conformity with the 1989 UN convention on the rights of the child, would take effect in the latter half of the year.

Health Women gamble with holiday sex

Holiday romances can be fraught with danger Women are likely to throw caution to the wind when they go on holiday in search of sex, excitement and danger, say researchers. They found that men are more likely to have sex with a new partner on holiday, but those women that do have a holiday romance are more likely to engage in unprotected sex. Professor Michael Bloor and his colleagues from the University of Cardiff found that men and women differ significantly in the risks they take in "romantic and sexual" relationships while travelling abroad. The researchers studied young people aged 18-34 years who had travelled abroad during the previous two years without a sexual partner. In total, 400 people took part in a computer-assisted telephone interview about their sex lives while on holiday. The researchers found: The average number of new partners during the two-year period covered by the questionnaire was two; More men than women in the group had new sexual encounters; A greater proportion of women (18%) than men (10%) reported that they had unprotected sex four or more times with their last partner abroad; When men are abroad their patterns of sexual behaviour - such as use of condoms with casual sexual partners - reflect patterns of behaviour at home; Women abroad tended to be influenced by the background of the men with whom they had sex; Women were more likely to have unprotected sex with a man from the host country than with a fellow traveller. Some women take unnecessary risks Overall, three quarters of interviewees who had new sexual relationships abroad used condoms. The high proportion of young people reporting that they practise safer sex is encouraging, say the researchers, but future campaigns are needed to sustain safer-sex practice and to "encourage such practices in the next generations of young travellers". The investigators say that if future campaigns are to be effective, "they should continue to be sensitive to differences between men and women in sexual risk behaviour". The sexual behaviour of young travellers is an important health issue because of the HIV epidemic. Although the number of deaths caused by HIV and Aids has decreased in wealthy nations where the latest drugs have prolonged the lives of sufferers, the epidemic is spreading at alarming speed in the developing world. Using a condom is one of the most effective ways of preventing the transmission of the virus. Professor Bloor said: "HIV seems to be more readily transmitted from men to women than women to men, so women are at increased risk of heterosexual HIV transmission and are also more likely to report multiple exposure to infection."