Afraid I've caught pal's infection; teen talk.

Byline: LINDSAY COCHRANE

Q MY best friend has just told me that she caught chlamydia from her boyfriend.

She's split up with him, though, because he told her he'd never slept with anyone else.

Now I'm really worried, though. My friend and I stay over at each other's houses a lot, and when I'm at hers I'll sleep in her bed.

Is there any chance I might have caught it? I'm really scared because I have noticed a bit of an itch down there and I'm totally paranoid that I've got her nasty disease too.

Please help me. I'm 14.

Q CHLAMYDIA is a sexuallytransmitted infection.

That means that you have to have been sexually involved with someone who has an STI to catch it. So unless you and your friend get a bit overfamiliar at sleepovers, you'll be fine.

This is why sex is illegal under the age of 16. It comes with so much responsibility and STIs are serious business.

Chlamydia, for instance, can leave you infertile.

You should get that itch checked out though to rule out TOP anything else. Your friend has been really brave in telling you, so it's time to learn from her mistakes.

Contraception is hugely important.

For more on sexually-transmitted infections, check out www.condomessentialwear.co.uk