The country is seeing "worrying" record high levels of gonorrhoea and syphilis sexually transmitted infections (STIs), new figures have revealed.
An Office for National Statistics (ONS) report analysed data until the end of December 2022 which revealed a huge rise in the number of STI cases. Last year there were over 393,000 diagnoses of new STIs among England residents - an increase of nearly 24% compared to the previous year.
Among the main infections contributing to the worrying new data, there were 82,592 cases of gonorrhoea in 2022 - up 50% on the number recorded in 2021. Chlamydia cases increased to 199,233 in 2022 - up 24.3% - while infectious syphilis has also increased by over 15%.
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Anthea Morris, director of Better2Know, the world's largest private provider of STI testing services: "The fact that the number of gonorrhoea and syphilis diagnoses is so high is extremely worrying. In 2022, we saw STI testing return to pre-pandemic levels and a key contributor to the number of STI tests increasing last year was without doubt the end of social distancing.
"We have already seen the number of private STI tests increase by 18% in 2023 compared to 2022, with increased rates of chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis and mycoplasma infections. Syphilis in particular can be very difficult to diagnose. We are seeing a higher rate of people over 40 getting tested privately as people want fast and confidential answers without putting more pressure on the NHS. The UK is facing a serious STI crisis that is growing by the day."
The age group most likely to be diagnosed with a STI is people who are 15-24. The ONS report also detailed how there were 2,195,909 sexual health screens recorded last year - an increase of 13% - as people return to pre-pandemic activity.
What are the symptoms?
Gonorrhoea is spread by unprotected vaginal, oral and anal sex and is easily passed between people. Typical symptoms include a thick green or yellow discharge from the vagina or penis, pain when peeing and, in women, bleeding between periods. Around one in 10 infected men and almost half of infected women do not experience symptoms.
Chlamydia usually appears between one and three weeks after having unprotected sex with someone, but in some cases it might not develop until months later. Symptoms in women include pain when urinating, unusual vaginal discharge, pain in the tummy or pelvis, pain during sex and bleeding after sex. Symptoms in men include pain when urinating, white or cloudy discharge from the penis, burning or itching in the urethra and pain in the testicles.
If not treated, syphilis can cause serious and potentially life-threatening problems. The symptoms include small sores on your penis, vagina, or around your anus, sores around your mouth and lips, grey warty growths on your penis, vagina or anus, a rash on your hands and feet, white patches in your mouth, flu-like symptoms, swollen glands and patchy hair loss. It can take three weeks or more for symptoms to appear.
How to prevent the disease and how to get tested
The ONS said the main message to improve safer sexual behaviour was to use condoms consistently and correctly. Condoms protect against HIV and other STIs including chlamydia, gonorrhoea, and syphilis. Regular tests are essential for good sexual health - and everyone should have an STI screen on an annual basis.
You can have a test in a number of different places. These include a sexual health clinic, a GP surgery, a contraceptive and young people's clinic, a private clinic, or with tests free to order online. Most STIs can be treated using antibiotics, but some infections such as HIV and genital herpes never leave the body. Drugs are available to reduce these symptoms.
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