The UK’s sexual health continues to deteriorate, according to figures published by the Public Health Laboratory Service (PHLS).
There was a 6% overall increase in the total number of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) treated at sexual health and genito-urinary medicine clinics in 2001, with particularly notable increases in new cases of chlamydia and gonorrhoea, which increased by 10% and 8% respectively. In addition, the number of people diagnosed with infectious syphilis more than doubled, from 322 cases in 2000 to nearly 700 cases last year, largely due to outbreaks amongst gay men in London and Manchester. Cases of genital warts also showed an increase of 2% and herpes a 6% increase.
Dr Gwenda Hughes of the PHLS expressed concern at the figures, saying that they “confirmed the deterioration in the nation’s sexual health”, adding that “young women and gay men still remain the groups that cause the greatest concern.”