New figures have been released by the Health Protection Agency today reporting on the UK population’s sexual health of 2009 and the focus seems to be primarily on those aged between 15 and 24, with women coming out as the most affected. In addition, there is an even greater risk than before regarding gonorrhoea and its growing resistance to current treatments.
Since 2008, 12,000 more cases of sexually transmitted infections than last year were reported giving us a total of 482,696 cases reported in UK sexual health clinics in 2009. It follows that two thirds of the STIs in women were represented by those under the age of 25. In the case of chlamydia, women under 25 make up 88% of those infected. For gonorrhoea, 73% of the women infected were under 25 and 66% of women infected with genital warts were of this age group also.
With men, the results are similar in that over half of the infections were contracted by men under the age of 25. For gonorrhoea, 41% of the infections were from men of this age group and in the case of genital warts, 47% of men of this age were represented. Furthermore, a massive 69% of the men infected with chlamydia were below 25. Last year, of the men and women in this age group who had contracted an infection, one in ten of them contracted an infection within a year after their treatments.
There is a huge focus here on the under 25s however, they have been targeted by the NHS for special attention so we would be staggered if there were not more under 25s presenting for testing so this obviously means that a higher proportion of the total figure will be comprised of people in this age category. Educating the middle aged is hugely important as STIs are on the rise in that group as well. With higher divorce rates and couples breaking up after years together, it is possible that in their new sexual relationships, that they are not practising safe sex and are just as responsible for the spreading of these infections.
Unprotected sex and ignorance regarding STIs is not only increasing the volume of people infected, it is now possible that we will not be able to treat certain infections in the future. The HPA report confirms an increase in drug resistance in the treatment for gonorrhoea. This is already one of the most common STIs and it is on the rise, having increased by 6% between 2008 and 2009. Overall, there were massive increases in the numbers contracting STIs with chlamydia having increased by 7% and genital herpes by 5%.
It is so easy to get tested these days so there is really no excuse. If you click through to our Sexual Health page, there are details on how to order a test online, with results from the laboratory in as little as 24 hours.>