New data from the UK Health Security Agency published today shows record levels of gonorrhoea and syphilis diagnoses in 2022.
The latest data shows: that gonorrhoea diagnoses increased to 82,592 in 2022, an increase of 50.3% compared to 2021 (54,961) and 16.1% compared to 2019 (prior to the COVID-19 pandemic)
This is the highest number of diagnoses in any one year since records began in 1918
Meanwhile infectious syphilis diagnoses increased to 8,692 in 2022, up 15.2% compared to 2021 (7,543) and 8.1% compared to 2019,the largest annual number since 1948
People aged 15 to 24 years remain the most likely to be diagnosed with sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
in 2022, there were over 400 diagnoses of STIs made each day among young people
While the increase in gonorrhoea and syphilis diagnoses will in part be due to increases in testing, the scale of the increase in diagnoses strongly suggests that there is more transmission of STIs within the population.
Dr Hamish Mohammed, Consultant Epidemiologist at UKHSA, said:
“We saw more gonorrhoea diagnoses in 2022 than ever before, with large rises particularly in young people. STIs aren’t just an inconvenience – they can have a major impact on your health and that of any sexual partners.”
“Condoms are the best defence, but if you didn’t use one the last time you had sex with a new or casual partner, get tested to detect any potential infections early and prevent passing them on to others. Testing is important because you may not have any symptoms of an STI.”
