One in 10 Britons say they have contracted an STI while on holiday as experts warn rowdy bachelorette parties abroad could spark a ‘boom’ in infections such as chlamydia
One in ten Britons claims to have contracted an STI while on holiday, a survey has found.
A similar number admitted they would not be tested if they cheated on their partner while they were away.
The poll, of 2,000 people aged 18-55, also found that one in six were unfaithful or wouldn’t turn down the opportunity while partying.
Experts labeled the findings today, which sharpened behavior at foreign hen and stag parties, as “hugely concerning.”
Dr. Rashid Bani, private GP and medical director of Your Sexual Health, who conducted the survey, added that a “massive percentage” of Britons do not take “sexual health” seriously.
The poll, of 2,000 people aged 18-55, also found that one in six were unfaithful or wouldn’t turn down the opportunity while partying. According to the results, a third of Britons (34 per cent) tested too early and risked a false negative for chlamydia or gonorrhea. Nearly half (48 percent) tested too early for HIV, syphilis or hepatitis
UKHSA data shows STDs chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis have experienced a post-Covid boom with diagnoses soaring by 2022. Syphilis diagnoses (purple line) have a separate Y-axis on the right side compared to other STDs
Data suggests that, overall, Britons aged between 15 and 24 were most likely to test positive for an STI. Gonorrhea diagnoses are listed here broken down by age group
He told the i newspaper: “This could indicate that an STD boom is on the horizon as deer and fowl season is underway.
“More people having unprotected sex during the season is likely to lead to an increase in the number of people needing an STI test upon returning home.
“This will put additional pressure on existing sexual health services and a stretched NHS.
“Whether that’s because of a wave of requests for testing early on or later, when undiagnosed and untreated infections cause further health complications that require care.”
According to the poll results, a third of Britons (34 per cent) tested too early and risked a false negative for chlamydia or gonorrhea.
Nearly half (48 percent) tested too early for HIV, syphilis or hepatitis.
The NHS advises waiting 14 days before testing for chlamydia and gonorrhea and four weeks for syphilis and HIV.
Dr. Bani added: ‘There is also the added concern that many who test do so too early, meaning they risk getting a false negative.
“If left untreated, sexually transmitted diseases can lead to complications such as pelvic inflammatory disease and infertility problems.”
It comes as gonorrhea diagnoses rose last year to the highest level since the end of World War I.
Official statistics showed that by 2022 in England, 82,592 people – including children aged 13 and over – were diagnosed with an STI.
The figure was 16.1 percent higher than in 2019, before Covid hit, and 50.3 percent higher than the 2021 total.
Testing for STIs has been greatly reduced during the pandemic.
Cases of the dangerous STIs syphilis and chlamydia also jumped.
Pandemic rules banned people from different households from mixing and forced bars and nightclubs to temporarily close.
Health officials believe this was followed by an increase in people having condomless sex with new or casual partners.
Dr. Hamish Mohammed, consultant epidemiologist at UKHSA, said: ‘We have recently seen record levels of gonorrhea, with large increases, particularly in young people.
‘Last year, more than 400 STI diagnoses were made every day in people between the ages of 15 and 24.’
He added: ‘We tend to see more STIs diagnosed in the summer, so if you’re having sex with new or casual partners, wear a condom and get tested regularly, regardless of your age, gender or sexual orientation.
“Testing is free and confidential and you should get tested even if you don’t show symptoms to detect potential infections early and prevent them from being passed on to others.”