NewsScotland: cases of STIs remain high

Scotland: cases of STIs remain high

Publications: Gonorrhoea infection in Scotland & Chlamydia trachomatis infection in Scotland, Public Health Scotland (PHS)

What are the main points?

>Diagnoses of gonorrhoea and chlamydia (the most common sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in Scotland) increased in 2023 compared to 2022.

> Gonorrhoea saw 5999 cases in 2023, compared to 5641 in 2022.

>There were 13,400 cases of chlamydia recorded in 2023, up from 13,148 in 2022. However, this is lower than 2019, which saw 17,336 cases.

>Testing figures at sexual health clinics have increased since 2020, and are now similar to pre-pandemic levels.

EXPERT THOUGHT

Consultant in health protection at PHS Dr Kirsty Roy said: ‘[While] it is good news that we are seeing testing levels in sexual health clinics return to pre-pandemic levels… the data suggests fewer young people and heterosexual men are using sexual health services. This puts them at risk of having an undiagnosed STI if they have had unprotected sex.’

Image | Shutterstock

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