SWINDONIAN sex lives are under threat from smoking. A new campaign in the town features the effect smoking can have on performance and fertility.

Posters and leaflets spelling out the impact of smoking on young people have gone out to all secondary schools, and Sex and the Ciggie displays will be put up at various locations this week.

Smoking advisors from Swindon Primary Care Trust have joined forces with education, colleges, youth clinics and youth projects in the week-long campaign with a hard-hitting message.

The posters are designed to get the message across that smoking isn't cool.

One shows an attractive young woman with cigarette ends stuffed in her mouth, with messages saying Nice face shame about the kiss and Kissing a smoker is like snogging an ashtray.

Cherry Jones, NHS Stop Smoking co-ordinator, said: "The material pulls no punches. But that's the whole point.

"What we want to do is target young men and women with the message that smoking can seriously affect every aspect of their lives.

"For instance, smoking is one of the leading causes of male impotence and reduced fertility in men."

She believes young women also need to be more aware of the impact of smoking on their relationships.

She said: "Women who smoke are 60 per cent more likely to be infertile than non-smokers because tobacco smoke contains chemicals that are toxic to the egg cells in the ovary.

"Smoking can also cause a loss of suppleness and wrinkling to the skin, bad breath and yellowing of the teeth."

The displays can be found at:

The Clivey Project in Cricklade Road

The Well Woman Centre and the Well Man clinic in Milton Road

The Confide Clinic held in St John's Church

The Youth Clinic at the health centre in Carfax Street

Young Mums to Be courses

Anyone wanting help to smoke smoking can call the NHS free helpline on 0800 389 2229.

David Andrew