New figures from the UK’s Health Protection Agency (HPA) show that the country’s sexual health continues to deteriorate, with increases in the number of cases of gonorrhoea, syphilis, chlamydia, and genital warts. However, the increases are not as large as those seen in previous years, and there was a noticeable fall in the number of cases of gonorrhoea seen in gay men.
In June a committee of MPs published a report highlighting a “crisis” in the UK’s sexual health, and these figures look set to add to the concern generated by this report.
According to the HPA figures, chlamydia is the most common sexually transmitted infection seen in the UK, with just under 36,000 cases diagnosed in 2002, an increase of 14% on the year before. However, the largest percentage increase was seen for syphilis, with a 67% increase in new cases amongst men and 33% in women, meaning that over 1,000 cases were seen in men in 2002 and 137 cases in women. In the mid-1990s fewer than 100 cases of syphilis a year were diagnosed in the UK, however there have been recent outbreaks of the disease amongst gay men in several cities, as well as an outbreak amongst heterosexuals, leading to a sharp increase in the prevalence of the disease over the past few years.
Public health officials also observed a 10% increase in cases of gonorrhoea in women and an 8% increase in men, meaning that almost 25,000 cases were diagnosed in 2002.
The prevalence of viral STI’s also increased, herpes by 4% in men and 1% in women and genital warts by 3% in males and 1% in females.
However, there were also some encouraging findings. The rate of increase slowed for syphilis, warts and herpes, and the incidence of gonorrhoea amongst gay men fell by 5% nationally and 11% in London, where over 50% of all cases of gonorrhoea seen in gay men are located.
However gay men, along with young women remain the groups most affected by STIs. Dr Kevin Fenton of the HPA said: “40% of new gonorrhoea diagnoses were seen in females under the age of 20." He emphasised the need for targeted sexual health promotion campaigns adding, “it is important that people at higher risk should be provided with clear and accurate information about staying healthy, and have ready available access to screening and advice.”
Last month’s report by MPs however highlighted long waits for sexual health clinic appointments in many parts of the country and the chronic underfunding of services.
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UK’s sexual health in crisis say MPs - news story