There has been a big jump in the number of people getting tested for the sexually transmitted infection (STI), chlamydia, in Dublin this year.

According to the Dublin Well Woman Centre, its three clinics have already carried out 4,576 chlamydia tests so far this year, surpassing the full-year totals for the last five years.

The highest number of tests carried out in the last five years was in 2012, when 4,424 were carried out. The lowest number was in 2010, when 3,826 tests were carried out.

Chlamydia is the most common STI in the developed world. Usually, it has no obvious symptoms, especially in women, however if left untreated, it can lead to serious complications such as infertility in women, ectopic pregnancies and orchitis (inflamed testicles) in men.

If diagnosed early, the infection can be treated with a course of antibiotics.

The centre noted that while prevalence rates for chlamydia usually average around 5% across all age groups, there has been a ‘spike' in positive tests among younger people. In fact, the highest rate of positive chlamydia tests - 10% - occurs in people under the age of 20.

This, the centre insisted, clearly shows that young people are engaging in risky sexual behaviour.

"It is very important for anyone who had a recent change in partners to get tested for chlamydia. The fact that we are testing more people is an indication that people understand this.

"While it is a very good thing that young women are open to presenting for testing, we are concerned that the safe sex message clearly isn't getting through, despite the amount of public health resources devoted to it," commented the centre's medical director, Dr Shirley McQuade.

She emphasised that while emergency contraception, which is available over the counter, will help to prevent an unplanned pregnancy, ‘it won't stop the transmission of sexual diseases'.

"Only a condom, used correctly, can do this," she said.

Meanwhile the centre's CEO, Alison Begas, urged people to practise safe sex during the upcoming Christmas party season.

"It is important to be aware that many people can have the infection and experience little or no symptoms, making it all the more important to use protection.

"Testing for chlamydia is painless, and can be done on a urine sample. It only takes a couple of minutes. Alternatively, we recently introduced a self-testing vaginal swab, which means a woman can take her own swab in the clinic, which we then send to the laboratory for analysis," she added.

For more information on the Well Woman Centre or STI testing, click here