STDs rise 22 percent as syphilis and gonorrhea spike to record levels, official figures reveal

Cases of syphilis have risen to their highest level since 1948, while diagnoses of gonorrhea have risen to record levels, official figures show.

The news comes amid a general rise in the number of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), with 401,800 new diagnoses in England last year.

The number was up 4.7 percent from 383,789 in 2022, although the number of cases is still below pre-pandemic levels, with 468,139 cases recorded in 2019.

While the majority of the 9,513 cases of syphilis were in gay men, the UK Health Security Agency said there was a larger “proportionate increase” in the number of diagnoses among heterosexual men and women.

In 2023, 1,958 cases were diagnosed among heterosexual men and women, a 22 percent increase from 2022, when there were 1,608 cases.

Among gay men, the number of cases increased by seven percent in the same period.

Syphilis can be easily controlled with antibiotics, although it can become life-threatening if left untreated as it can seriously damage the brain, heart and nervous system.

The new STD statistics for England also show that 85,223 cases of gonorrhea will be detected in 2023 – the highest number since records began in 1918.

The disease can cause pregnancy complications and infertility and has become increasingly resistant to common antibiotics in recent years, according to experts.

Worryingly, the biggest increase in the number of new STDs was among children aged 13 and 14, where the number rose by 19.5 per cent year-on-year to 459.

This was followed by pensioners aged 65 and over, with the number of new cases rising 18.2 per cent to 2,885, according to the UKHSA.

Chlamydia was responsible for almost half of all new STDs discovered, with 194,970 diagnoses in 2023. There were 27,167 first episodes of genital herpes and 26,133 new genital warts.

The Local Government Association, which represents municipalities responsible for commissioning clinics, blamed the rise in infections on people struggling to access contraception and the surge in demand for care.

It added that the figures show the next government must launch a 10-year sexual health strategy.

There has been no new strategy since 2001.

There was also a 5 percent increase in the number of consultations by sexual health services, from 4,392,466 to 4,610,410.

The figures show that there were 216,050 new STDs in men and 169,475 in women, with the patient’s gender noted.

Syphilis is also called ‘the great pretender’ because its symptoms are similar to those of other STDs. Here are five warning signs of the disease to look out for

Dr. Hamish Mohammed, consultant epidemiologist at UKHSA, said: ‘STDs can have a major impact on your health, regardless of your age, gender or sexual orientation.

‘The best way to reduce the risk of infection is to consistently and correctly use a condom with new or casual partners.

‘The NHS offers free, confidential STD testing to detect possible infections and prevent you passing them on to others.’

Cllr David Fothergill, chairman of the LGA’s Community Wellbeing Board, said: ‘Councils want to continue to encourage more people to visit their local sexual health clinic, particularly hard-to-reach communities.

‘However, today’s figures show that sexual health care is still facing increasing demand pressure.

‘This is why we are calling for a new ten-year strategy to tackle infection rates and ensure sexual health services are properly funded and financed in the long term.’