Patients notified of sexually transmitted disease infections via text message will seek treatment quicker than those who prefer traditional methods, a WA researcher says.

In a study, Geraldton doctor Marisa Giles found that 72 per cent of patients who contracted a sexually transmitted infection were treated within a day if they were notified by text.

She said patients between the ages of 15 and 25 were much more receptive to receiving texts rather than phone calls, emails or letters.

Dr Giles said genital chlamydia was the most common sexually transmitted infection.

"We can get 30 to 40 people with chlamydia being notified," she said.

"We know this is just the tip of the iceberg, because there's lots of young people out there who aren't even getting tested, and it's so easy to get tested.

"For men, they just pee in a pot and for women they just pop up a little swab and we can get a result."

She said the infection needed to be treated as quickly as possible.

'If they're in school, they can't pick up the phone'

Dr Giles said she could understand the appeal of a text message.

"Phone calls are a nuisance. If they're in school, they can't pick up the phone and respond," she said.

"If they're with mates, it's much more indiscreet to have a chat, but if it's a text ... it's much easier and [more] discreet than a phone call."

Dr Giles recently presented her findings to the 2014 Australasian Sexual Health Conference in Sydney.

She said the method could be adopted in other areas of health care.

"Our results suggest that SMS is a highly effective, youth friendly communication tool which could be utilised in other healthcare settings which interact with the younger population," she said.

Young people made up the lion's share of all reported chlamydia infections in the state in the past 12 months.

Teenagers aged 15 to 19 made up 24 per cent over the 12 months prior to July 1, according to the latest figures from the Department of Health.

Those aged 20 to 24 made up 35 per cent.