Politician reveals she caught an STI but claims it 'wasn't a big deal' because she got tested and treated early - as she calls for an end to sexual health stigma

  • ACT politician Tara Cheyne revealed she was diagnosed with chlamydia at 21
  • She was putting forward a motion to improve sexual heath outreach 
  • She said that she decided to share her experience to help break the stigma 

By Claudia Poposki For Daily Mail Australia

Published: 07:04 EDT, 15 May 2019 | Updated: 07:12 EDT, 15 May 2019

A politician has revealed that she once contracted an STI while calling for an end to stigma around sexual health.

Labor MLA Tara Cheyne, 32, revealed she was diagnosed with chlamydia at age 21 while putting forward a motion in the ACT Legislative Assembly to improve sexual health outreach.

The Member for the Ginninderra reiterated her statement on Facebook and gave a glimpse into what help she had gotten.   

Tara Cheyne (pictured) revealed she was diagnosed with chlamydia outside the ACT Legislative Assembly as she put forward a motion to improve sexual heath outreach by going out into the community to talk about it

Tara Cheyne (pictured) revealed she was diagnosed with chlamydia outside the ACT Legislative Assembly as she put forward a motion to improve sexual heath outreach by going out into the community to talk about it

She said that she decided to share her experience as she wanted to help break the stigma

She said that she decided to share her experience as she wanted to help break the stigma

'I got tested, diagnosed and got a dose of antibiotics. That's it. It wasn't a big deal. And it was all free,' she said.

What is chlamydia? 

Chlamydia is a bacterial infection and can infect the sexual organs in men and women.

People are typically unaware they have it until they are tested.

If untreated it can cause inflammation of the upper genital tract and infertility in men. While women can end up with pelvic inflammatory disease, which can cause ectopic pregnancies, chronic pelvic pain and infertility. 

It also increases the possibility of getting other STIs or HIV.

Chlamydia is treated with anibiotics.

In 2011 it was the most reported condition in Australia and in that year  more women than men said they had it. 

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics 

She said that she decided to share her experience as she wanted to help break the stigma.

'We're probably the most sexually aware generation in history, but STI rates are rising and blood-borne viruses remain prevalent,' she said.   

'There's plenty of evidence that many people are living with STIs and BBVs without knowing it. 

'The sexual and other health impacts when you're not being treated can be lasting or permanent, and, in some cases, life-threatening.'

She said that talking about sexual health will have a better impact on how people view and deal with it.  

'I'm not saying that everyone should be going around talking about when and if they are getting testing and what those results are,' she said, according to the ABC.

'Or how many boxes of condoms they might be buying weekly.'

She said that talking about sexual health will have a better impact on how people view and deal with it

She said that talking about sexual health will have a better impact on how people view and deal with it

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Politician reveals she caught an STI but claims it 'wasn't a big deal'

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