Gonorrhoea diagnoses in the South West have shot up, the UK Health Security Agency has said.
Provisional data published recently indicates that confirmed cases of the sexually transmitted disease from January to September 2022 were 21% higher than those reported over the same period in 2019.
Data also indicates that during the first 9 months of 2022, gonorrhoea cases were higher than those reported over the same period in each of the last 3 years.
While this data doesn’t include the South West specifically, a UKHSA spokesperson for the region has said: “Like all areas, we are seeing an increase in cases.”
People are now being urged to wear a condom and get tested regularly if having sex with new or casual partners. Testing is free and discreet, and testing is recommended even if you are not showing any symptoms.
The data shows that the total number of gonorrhoea diagnoses from January to September 2022 (56,327) was 21% higher when compared to the same period in 2019 (46,541), the year when the highest number of diagnoses was reported.
Young people aged 15 to 24 years remain most likely to be diagnosed with sexually transmitted infections (STIs) due to more frequent changes in sexual partners.
Though STIs are usually easily treated with antibiotics, some STIs, including gonorrhoea, can have serious consequences as they can cause serious health issues such as infertility and pelvic inflammatory disease, as well as resistance to the recommended treatments.
Typical symptoms of gonorrhoea include a thick green or yellow discharge from the vagina or penis, pain when urinating, pain and discomfort in the rectum and, in women and other people with a uterus or ovaries, lower abdominal pain and bleeding between periods.
People infected with gonorrhoea will often have no symptoms, especially for infections in the throat, vagina or rectum. This lack of symptoms makes it important to test regularly when having sex with new or casual partners.
Dr Claire Dewsnap, president of the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV, said: The rise in gonorrhoea cases provides an important reminder of the importance of testing for STIs and wearing a condom every time you have sex.
"By getting tested at least once a year, regardless of whether you’re showing symptoms, you can help minimise the risk of catching or passing on STIs when having sex.
"Delaying access to the right care and treatment also risks developing longer-term problems which can be more difficult to address.
"If you are concerned about STI transmission, sexual health clinics are on hand to help."
To find your local sexual health service visit https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/find-a-sexual-health-clinic
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