Two major STIs hit record levels in Europe

Record levels of Gonorrhoea and syphilis have been detected in Europe, reaching the highest number of cases in over ten years.

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control said that cases of gonorrhoea soared to 106,331 cases – a 33% surge since 2015.

Syphilis cases, meanwhile, have more than doubled – reaching 45,557 cases in the same period of time.

The reason? Increasing gaps in both testing and prevention for STIs across the board.

Head of the Directly Transmitted and Vaccine-Preventable Diseases unit, Bruno Ciancio, said the infections could cause lifelong complications.

‘These infections can cause severe complications, such as chronic pain and infertility and, in the case of syphilis, problems with the heart or nervous system,’ he said.

‘In cases where infections pass directly to newborns, it can lead to potentially lifelong complications.’

Spain is leading Europe in the highest number of both STIs, recording 37,169 gonorrhoea cases and 11,556 syphilis cases.

Sexually active people have been urged to keep wearing condoms with new or multiple partners and to get tested if anything is awry.

Last year, the UK became the first country in the world to roll out a vaccine for gonorrhoea.

In trials, the breakthrough jab was shown to cut the risk of infection by more than 50%, and its introduction was hailed as a major milestone in sexual health.

Gonorrhoea symptoms usually start around two weeks after infection, but they can lie dormant for months, or you could even be symptomless.

For women, keep an eye out for telltale signs like yellow or greenish discharge, burning when you pee, pain in your abdomen, and bleeding between periods.

In men, it can cause sore testicles, fluid or discharge coming out of the penis and burning when you pee.

The STI is spread through unprotected sex – including oral – and can affect the eyes and mouth as well as the genitals.

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection that is caught by having sex with someone who is infected.

It is a bacterial infection and is easily treated with antibiotics in the early stages.

If syphilis is not treated, however, it can cause serious problems, including spreading to the brain and other parts of the body and causing serious, long-term problems, according to the NHS.

Syphilis infections in pregnant women can cause miscarriage, stillbirth and infection to the baby.

Anyone sexually active is at risk.

Syphilis is usually caught through contact with an infected sore, usually through vaginal, anal or oral sex or by sharing sex toys.

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