STI cases reach record highs
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Cases of gonorrhoea in England have reached record highs, new figures show.
Meanwhile, the number of syphilis cases diagnosed in England has reached the highest level since just after the Second World War.
Infectious syphilis diagnoses increased to 8,692 in 2022, the largest annual number since 1948, new figures from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) show.
Gonorrhoea diagnoses rose to to 82,592 in 2022, an increase of 50.3% compared to 2021.
We saw more gonorrhoea diagnoses in 2022 than ever before, with large rises, particularly in young people
This is the highest number of gonorrhoea diagnoses in any one year since records began in 1918, the UKHSA said.
The UKHSA said people aged 15 to 24 are most likely to be diagnosed with STIs as it urged those who are having sex with new or causal partners to wear a condom and get tested regularly.
It said STIs are usually easily treated with antibiotics but many can cause serious health issues if left untreated.
Chlamydia and gonorrhoea can cause infertility and pelvic inflammatory disease, while syphilis can cause potentially life-threatening problems with the brain, heart or nerves.
“We saw more gonorrhoea diagnoses in 2022 than ever before, with large rises, particularly in young people,” said Dr Hamish Mohammed, consultant epidemiologist at UKHSA.
“STIs aren’t just an inconvenience – they can have a major impact on your health and that of any sexual partners.
“Condoms are the best defence but if you didn’t use one the last time you had sex with a new or casual partner, get tested to detect any potential infections early and prevent passing them on to others.
“Testing is important because you may not have any symptoms of an STI.”
In 2022, there were 2,195,909 diagnostic tests for chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis or HIV – 13.4% more than 2021.
The UKHSA said that while the rise in gonorrhoea and syphilis diagnoses will partly be due to increases in testing, the sharp rise “strongly suggests” there is more transmission of STIs in the population.
