UK Experiencing Spike In Cases Of Gonorrhoea And Syphilis

According to recent data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), several STDs are at their highest levels since records first began in 1918.

The number of diagnoses of gonorrhoea increased to 82,592 in 2022, a 50.3% increase from 2021 and the most in a single year since records began keeping in 1918.

Meanwhile, there were 8,692 new cases of syphilis diagnosed, the highest annual total since 1948 in the UK

Diagnoses of Chlamydia climbed from 160,279 in 2021 to 199,233 in 2022, a 24.3% rise. This includes 68,882 diagnoses of chlamydia in people ages 15 to 24.

More generally, there were 392,453 new STIs found among UK citizens last year, a rise of nearly a quarter from the previous year.

Read Also: Strange 11Yrs-Old-Girl Catches Gonorrhoea From Natural Thermal Pool

It comes after an increase in cases in 2021 when rates stabilized after the COVID pandemic, which caused a decline in STIs as a result of lockdowns implemented for a large portion of 2020.

The UKHSA recommended anyone who is having sex with new or casual partners to wear a condom and be tested often, noting that persons between the ages of 15 and 24 are most likely to be diagnosed with STIs.

Dr Hamish Mohammed, consultant epidemiologist at UKHSA, said: “We saw more gonorrhoea diagnoses in 2022 than ever before, with large rises, particularly in young people. 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.”

The statistics show that among individuals between the ages of 15 and 34, gay and bisexual men were involved in almost 46% of cases, while heterosexual men were involved in 33% and heterosexual women in 22%.

For anyone having intercourse without using a condom, with new or casual partners, they advise testing at least once a year for HIV and STDs.

If having condom-free sex with brand-new or casual partners, gay and bisexual men are encouraged to get tested for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections every three months.

Although antibiotics are typically effective in treating STIs, many of them can have major health consequences if neglected. While syphilis can result in significant, irreversible, and sometimes fatal issues with your brain, heart, or nerves, chlamydia and gonorrhoea can cause infertility and pelvic inflammatory disease.