In a bid to stem the spread of sexually transmitted infections, the Victorian government is asking people to 'spring into action' and get tested.
A million-dollar campaign will launch STI Testing Week to encourage Victorians to visit their GPs to test for infections such as gonorrhoea and syphilis, as well as blood-borne viruses such as hepatitis B and hepatitis C.
Victorian Health Minister Jill Hennessy said the package would include $247,000 for the North West Melbourne Primary Health Network to help GPs detect and treat STIs sooner.
"We can't pretend STIs don't happen because about one in six people will get an STI," Ms Hennessy said.
"Victoria's first-ever STI Testing Week is about increasing sexual health literacy among at-risk Victorians, specifically when, where and how to get tested and seek treatment, without stigma or discrimination."
Another $760,000 will go to a human papillomavirus (HPV) catch-up vaccination program to help stop the spread of HPV-related cancers and disease among men who have sex with men.
Melbourne Sexual Health Centre director Professor Christopher Fairley welcomed the initiative. He said the tests were not intrusive and were usually self-collected blood or urine samples.
"I would applaud the concept and idea," Professor Fairley said.
"The tests are very easy to have, they don't need an examination, and any GP can organise one for you.
"You don't need to come to us."
Professor Fairley said STI symptoms in women include lower abdominal pain, abnormal bleeding, lumps, bumps or ulcers in the genital area.
For men the signs could be an irritation in the urethra and a discharge.
However, he said, an absence of symptoms did not mean a person was disease-free.
"One of the most powerful and effective ways of controlling STIs is through testing," Professor Fairley said.
"Many STIs are asymptomatic, so the only way you can find them is to test for them.
"I would recommend anyone who has had a new partner, or perhaps been overseas and had a new partner, go to a GP and have some tests."
Professor Fairley said if left untreated, STIs could have long-term health implications including infertility in women.
"Sexually transmitted infections are rising, we are not sure why they are rising, but testing is am important part of their control," he said.
"The vaccine [Gardasil] that prevents throat and anal cancer in gay men, if you are 26 or under, you can get it free from a number of general practices and the sexual health centre."
The vaccine has been given free to teenagers under the national HPV vaccination program since 2007, protecting them from strains of the sexually transmitted virus that causes 70 per cent of cervical cancers.
Gardasil also works against HPV-related cancers in men, and genital warts in men and women.
Australia was the first country to introduce a free national HPV vaccination program, beginning with girls in 2007 and boys in 2013.
The vaccine is approved for use in females aged nine to 45 and males aged nine to 26.
However, coverage of the vaccination among gay men needs to increase with most anal cancer cases being HPV-related.
Gay men are also at three to five times at higher risk of developing genital warts, almost exclusively caused by HPV.
The STI Testing Week campaign will also expand the Victorian HIV and Hepatitis Integrated Training and Learning program to help GPs test more people, more often.
The program educates and trains GPs for the diagnosis, treatment and management of HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C and STIs.
To see if you could be at an increased risk of STIs, visit www.checkyourrisk.org.au.
Spring into Action: Victoria's STI Testing Week will run from Sunday to September 16.