- By Michelle Roberts
- digital health editor
image source, Getty Images
The UK has seen record high levels of gonorrhea and syphilis, following a drop during the Covid-19 pandemic. new numbers revealed.
People are being asked to practice safe sex to protect themselves and to get tested if they may be at risk.
According to the UK Health and Safety Agency, there will be 82,592 cases of gonorrhea in 2022, up 50% from 54,661 in the previous year.
The number of syphilis cases increased by 15% from 7,543 to 8,692.
The age group most likely to be diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection (STI) is 15-24 years old.
Some of the increase is due to increased testing, but the magnitude of the surge strongly suggests there are more infected people around, UKHSA said.
Condoms are “the best line of defense,” advises the magazine.
- 2,195,909 sexual health screenings or tests were performed, a 13% increase from the previous year.
- Chlamydia is the most commonly diagnosed sexually transmitted disease, with 199,233 documented cases.
- Syphilis infections hit highest level since 1948
- The number of gonorrhea hits the highest since annual records began in 1918
UKHSA’s Dr Hamish Mohamed said: “STDs are not just an inconvenience, they can have a huge impact on your health and that of your sexual partners.
“Condoms are your best defense, but if you didn’t use a condom the last time you had sex with a new or casual partner, you can catch potential infections early and avoid passing them on to others. Get tested to be safe. Testing is important.I don’t have symptoms of STDs.”
Cutbacks in sexual health services are exacerbating a bad situation, said Terrence Higgins Trust CEO Richard Angell, who said: “Sexual health services and public health budgets have been cut to the bone. there is
“This situation was exacerbated and brought to light by last year’s mpox outbreak, which has forced sexual health clinics in the most affected areas to focus on these core and critical services. have been deprived of access to HIV and STI testing, HIV prevention and contraception, and health care is adequately resourced and easily booked to ensure correct numbers of STDs. It won’t turn in any direction.”
What is gonorrhea and how is it transmitted?
image source, Getty Images
This disease is caused by gonorrhea.
The infection is spread through unprotected vaginal, oral, and anal sex.
Symptoms include dark green or yellow discharge from the genitals, painful urination, and bleeding between periods.
However, vaginal and rectal infections often have no symptoms.
Untreated infections can lead to infertility and pelvic inflammatory disease, and can be passed on to children during pregnancy.
How to get tested for an STI
Not all STDs have symptoms. There are several places where you can take the test.
- Sexual Health Clinics (also known as GUM Clinics)
- general practitioner surgery
- Contraception and Youth Clinic
- private clinic
- Some tests are Order online for free
- Some can be purchased at pharmacies and used at home.
Most sexually transmitted infections are treatable, but gonorrhea is becoming increasingly resistant to antibiotics, and so-called “super- gonorrhea” infections, which are difficult to treat, have emerged.
Some infections, such as HIV, genital warts, and genital herpes, do not leave the body, but there are drugs that can relieve symptoms. Medications can also help prevent or delay the onset of HIV complications.
