On Thursday, the health agency of the European Union expressed concern about a concerning increase in sexually transmitted infections (STIs) throughout the continent, suggesting that this might only represent the visible part of the issue. The reported cases of gonorrhoea surged by 48 percent, reaching 70,881 in the EU and EEA area, in comparison to the previous year. Additionally, instances of syphilis rose by 34 percent, totaling over 35,391 cases.
It said the rise was primarily driven by Spain and Ireland, which had the highest gonorrhea rates of all European countries. The sex-related diseases are a severe health risk for young people, and they are linked to infertility and reproductive problems. The report, published by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, says young people are particularly affected by chlamydia and gonorrhea because they are more likely to engage in risky sexual behaviors such as unprotected sex and having multiple partners.
The report identifies several factors that are driving the rise in STI cases, including dense sexual networks and social vulnerabilities such as lack of access to services. Men who have sex with men, women who have sex with women, and those who use pre-exposure prophylaxis to prevent HIV infection are at particular risk of STIs, as are displaced populations such as migrants and refugees and those working in the sex industry.
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It urged EU governments to develop strategies to reduce the burden of STIs and improve and harmonize epidemiological surveillance systems. It also called for greater efforts to raise awareness about STIs and better access to information and advice on how to stay healthy and protect yourself against STIs.
In addition, the report urges all EU nations to consider increasing the availability of condoms. It said the use of condoms lowered the incidence of STIs in all groups and was particularly important among those at high risk. It said a high proportion of all STIs are sexually transmitted and that most STIs are curable with effective treatment.
The report used data from the European STI surveillance system, based on country reporting of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis cases, as well as reports from non-EU/EEA countries where data was available. The report notes that there is likely under-reporting of STI cases, including for non-heterosexual women and transgender and gender-diverse individuals. The report cited notification rate disparities at national and EU/EEA levels. It also identified issues with age disaggregation in chlamydia data and a lack of gender-specific data for both gonorrhea and the more serious congenital syphilis. It also urged more efforts to ensure that a broader range of STIs, such as lymphogranuloma venereum and pyelonephritis, are reported in the European STI surveillance system. Rates are per 100,000 population unless otherwise indicated.