RAEL’S COMMENT:
Don’t forget the condom!
England has continued to see a rise in cases of syphilis and gonorrhoea over the past year.
New data shows a 20% increase in cases of syphilis and a 22% increase in gonorrhoea, compared with 2016.
Diagnoses of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in England remain stable overall, with around the same number reported as the previous year.
Health experts have expressed concern over a decline in testing for chlamydia.
The impact of STIs remains greatest in young people aged between 15 and 24 years, with gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men among those most at risk, says Public Health England in its report.
Black and minority ethnic populations are also disproportionately affected by STIs.
Chlamydia remains the most prevalent of the diseases, accounting for more than 200,000 cases last year – nearly half (48%) of all new STI diagnoses in 2017.
Testing in contraceptive clinics has fallen by 61% since 2015, which experts say may indicate a squeeze on resources. However, it may also reflect a rise in the use of home testing kits – and the availability of testing in other settings.
More than 7,000 cases of syphilis and nearly 46,000 cases of gonorrhoea were reported to Public Health England in 2017.
