It’s 2020 and cases of sexually transmitted infections are increasing here in England. In 2019, there were 468,342 new diagnoses of STIs at sexual health services in England, which was a 5% increase on the number diagnosed in PHE is collecting data for 2020 but as the number has continued to increase for the last few years, health experts recommend that anyone who feels they might have an STI or STD, contact an STD Clinic for STD testing right away.

Keeping That In Mind, Let’s Take A Look At Some Interesting Facts About STD’s Here In The UK In 2019:

• Gonorrhoea increased the most – by 26% to 70,936
• The UK saw its largest number of Gonorrhoea cases since records began in 1918.
• There were 7,982 cases of syphilis, and increase of 10% since the previous year.
• Screening for chlamydia increased by 2% since 2018, with just over 1.3 million young people tested, but overall there has been a 13% decline in numbers being screened since 2015.
• High-risk groups include young people and men who have sex with men.

The Most Commonly Diagnosed STIs Were:

• Chlamydia (229,411 Cases, 49% Of All New STI Diagnoses)
• Gonorrhoea (70,936 Cases, 15%)
• First Episode of Genital Warts (51,274 Cases, 11%)
• First Episode of Genital Herpes (34,570 Cases, 7%)

Gonorrhoea

While the number of gonorrhoea cases has been steadily increasing for the past 5 years among both men and women, it can be easily prevented by practicing safe, or protected, sex.

Gonorrhoea is sometimes referred to as “the clap”, and it is a bacterial infection which can be passed between people through unprotected sex. Some believe that it can be spread by toilet seats or sharing baths or towels, but that is not the case.

You can have gonorrhoea without showing any symptoms, yet still be able to transmit it to your partner. Gonorrhoea can be treated with antibiotics, but there have been recent reports of cases of a “super-gonorrhoea” which is resistant to traditional treatments.

What To Do If You Get One

Experts warn that there are many people who are not getting tested for STD’s when they should be. If you think that you might have an STD, you should go to an STD Clinic for STD testing right away. Symptoms could be non-visual or, as is the case with gonorrhoea, symptoms could include painful urination, or a yellow or green discharge from the vagina or penis. STD’s can cause serious long-term health problems in both men and women, including infertility in women.

Contact Northway Clinic

To learn more about STI’s and why they are on the rise in the UK, contact Northway Clinic today and speak to a healthcare professional who can answer any questions you might have.

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