Big rises in diagnoses of syphilis and gonorrhoea in England along with continuing high levels of other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) have alarmed sexual health campaigners.

Figures published by Public Health England (PHE) on Tuesday suggested cases of syphilis had jumped by 76% between 2012 and 2015 while cases of gonorrhoea rose by 53%. Between 2014 and 2015 alone, there were 20% more syphilis cases and 11% more gonorrhoea cases.

These were among new statistics showing continuing very high rates of STIs among gay men and young adults. The data prompted renewed calls from a senior PHE official for people with new, or casual, sexual partners to have regular STI tests. The official also urged them to help reverse the high levels of “condomless sex”.

Charities fear cuts in sexual health services are undermining STI testing regimes and reversing improvements brought about by previous investment.

A 3% fall in all new STI diagnoses to 434,456 cases between 2014 and 2015 was mainly due to less testing – and therefore diagnoses – for chlamydia despite recommendations for young people to be tested every year or when they change partners. Only just over one in seven young men and about a third of young women were tested for the disease in 2015.

The report said there were fewer diagnoses of genital warts, a consequence of the national HPV vaccination programme among girls aged 12-13.

The increasing prevalence of syphilis, an infection that, left untreated, can cause strokes, blindness, paralysis or death, is reflected in a rise from 3,001 diagnoses in 2012 to 5,228 in 2015. It can be treated with antibiotics if caught early.

Over the same period, gonorrhoea cases rose to 41,193.

Gwenda Hughes, head of STI surveillance at PHE, said: “We need to do more to raise awareness about STIs and how they can be prevented, especially the effectiveness of using condoms.

“We recommend that anyone having sex with a new or causal partner uses condoms and tests regularly for HIV and STIs. It is also vital to ensure there is easy access to STI testing and treatment services that meet the needs of local populations.”



Genevieve Edwards, director of policy at Marie Stopes UK, said: “These statistics should set alarm bells ringing about the availability of sexual health services for young people and men who have sex with men.

“When a drop in chlamydia diagnosis is due to a lack of testing rather than falling incidence, we risk losing all the ground gained by years of investment in the chlamydia screening programme. This will be costly, upsetting for those affected, and a wholly preventable own-goal.”

Natika Halil, chief executive of the Family Planning Association, said: “As we continue to hear about sexual health services being moved, restricted or closed, we reiterate our common-sense call on the government to prioritise investment in sexual health services in this country.”

Local authorities must also pay close attention to what was happening in their area and invest in prevention and education services, Halil said.