More funding is needed to combat rising rates of sexually transmitted infections in England, experts warn.
STIs are increasing across the country, with almost all local areas seeing a rise in positive tests per 1,000 residents for certain infections, the Local Government Association reports.
Rates of gonorrhea — which is surging all over England — have tripled in some areas over the last seven years. Most areas have also seen rising rates of syphilis, and around a third have seen an increase in chlamydia.
In fact, levels of syphilis are at their highest in more than 75 years, while gonorrhea is at its highest level for a century, according to the BBC.
Young people — particularly gay men, bisexual men and other men who have sex with men — have been most affected by rising STI rates, the outlet states.
Local authorities provide sexual health services like STI diagnosis, treatment and contraception, demand for which has grown over time.
Sexual health consultations have grown by a third over the last decade, while the number of diagnostic tests taking place increased by 13% between 2021 and 2022 alone.
But funding hasn’t kept pace with this growing need, the Local Government Association says.
Local authorities like councils recieve a public health grant to help pay for services like STI testing. But when adjusted for inflation, they’ve lost around £880m since 2015, the LGA reports.
Gonorrhea, syphilis and chlamydia are all infections spread by sexual contact. They can usually be treated with antibiotics.
Gonorrhea and chlamydia often don’t show symptoms, but they can nonetheless have serious impacts on health. In some cases, they can lead to infertility. Proper condom use and regular testing can help prevent their spread.
Syphilis causes symptoms including sores and rashes on the genitals, anus or mouth, as well as fever, headache, hair loss and weight loss.
Without treatment, it can affect different organ systems including the heart and blood vessels and the brain. In some cases, it can be fatal.
Experts say urgent action is needed to keep the nation’s sexual health in good shape.
British Association for Sexual Health and HIV president Dr Claire Dewsnap said the LGAs data demonstrates both “the deeply concerning trajectory of STI infection growth” and “the need for a robust national strategy, backed up by adequate funding.”
She added: “As demand for care increases, without imminent action, we compromise our ability to safeguard the sexual health of our nation.”
Councillor David Fothergill who chairs the LGA’s Community Wellbeing Board, said the statistics show that “local sexual health services are grappling with unprecedented increases in demand.”
“The government,” he added, “needs to ensure sexual health funding is increased to levels which matches these stark increases.”
Investing in sexual health services was essential to helping “prevent longer term illness and unwanted pregnancy,” he said — public health priorities that would not only improve people’s health but relieve pressure on the country’s overburdened public health system.
Dewsnapp added: “Without sufficient investment, sexual health service users will face severe challenges in their ability to access expert, timely care.”
