There has been an increase by 26% of people diagnosed with gonorrhea in a year according to the new report by the Public Health England (PHE).
Other findings have been discovered implying a new number of STI diagnoses, rising up to 5% from 2017 to 2018, though the number of consultations at sexual services, including online as well as clinics, increased by 7%.
The increase in STIs is most likely due to the incorrect form of using condoms frequently whilst being with multiple different or casual partners.
The PHE called the rise in gonorrhea concerning as the resistance from antibiotics from the disease is becoming more and more predominantly immune. It said gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men are at higher risk and over-represented, with almost half of cases diagnosed in this group.
Chlamydia continues to be the most commonly diagnosed STI, commonly affecting 15 to 24 year olds, who account for 60% of new diagnoses, there has been an increase of 2% since 2017.
Head of Policy and Public Affairs, Debbie Laycock, said the correlation between the central government stripping 700 million pounds from the public health budgets contributed to this concerning matter.
She said: “This is clear evidence that removing access to testing is having a direct impact on the rates of chlamydia with cases now rising.”
Dr Olwen Williams, President of the British Association of Sexual Health and HIV, called the accelerating rate of gonorrhea and syphilis an “urgent health priority”
He adds, “A clear commitment is therefore needed to ensure that the STI prevention agenda is embedded across education… the NHS is vital and we call upon Government to implement the recent Health and Social Care Select Committee recommendations as soon as possible.”
Dr Gwenda Hughes, Head of STI Surveillance at PHE, could not emphasise further on the importance of taking care of individuals’ sexual health, ” look after your sexual health. If you have sex with a new or casual partner, make sure you use condoms and get regularly tested.”
