Warning to young people after sharp rise in sexually transmitted infections » Communities » 24dash.com

Health experts issued a stark warning to young people today as figures showed a rise in the number of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) being diagnosed across the UK.

Young people aged 16 to 24 accounted for around half of all newly diagnosed STIs in 2007, despite accounting for just one-eighth of the population.

Figures from the Health Protection Agency (HPA) showed a 6% rise in STIs across all age groups between 2006 and 2007.

There were 397,990 newly diagnosed STIs in UK Gum clinics in 2007 across all age groups - up on the 375,843 reported in 2006.

New cases of genital herpes rose 20% while there was a 7% rise in genital warts and chlamydia.

New cases of gonorrhoea fell 1%, while there was also a small decline in syphilis of 0.2%.

Young women aged 16 to 19 accounted for the highest number of cases of chlamydia and genital warts in 2007.

Among men, the infections were most prevalent among those aged 20 to 24.

Professor Peter Borriello, director of the HPAs centre for infections, said: "It's increasingly the case that among young people a casual shag is part of the territory, it's part of life.

"Increasingly a shag now stands for syphilis, herpes, anal warts and gonorrhoea.

"If you are going to go swimming, dive into the pool, make sure you know how to swim, be safe.

"That really means wear a condom."

Dr Gwenda Hughes, head of the HIV and STI department at the HPA's centre for infections, said increased diagnosis and better diagnostic testing accounted for some of the rise in STI infections being recorded.

Prof Borriello said many young people should be applauded for the way they acted responsibly.

"A chance encounter, a few too many drinks, peer pressure and somebody at 16 may be in a first encounter saying 'Excuse me, have you got a condom?'

"It's not an easy thing to get across."

However, he added, there still needed to be a strong message delivered to those who engaged in casual encounters without taking proper precautions.

Dr Hughes said the 16-24 age group were more likely to have casual partners and overlapping partners than other groups.

The HPA is calling for all sexually active young people to be screened for chlamydia annually and every time they change their sexual partner.

Chlamydia, which often has no symptoms, remains the most common STI in the UK.

Since 2003, a national chlamydia screening programme for England has been in the process of being rolled out.

Today's report said that between 2003 and the end of 2007, more than 688,000 tests were carried out on people aged 13 to 24.

In 2003/04, 7% of the total number of tests were on men. Now the proportion is 28%.

Prof Borriello said a target for 15% of the total population to be screened had been missed, but the importance of the screening programme should not be undermined.

Today's figures showed that young people aged 16 to 24 accounted for 65% of all chlamydia cases (79,557 out of 121,986), 55% of all genital warts (49,250 out of 89,838) and half of gonorrhoea (9,410 out of 18,710).

New molecular diagnostic testing for herpes, which is being used across the UK, accounted for most of the 20% rise in cases across all age groups in 2007, Dr Hughes said.

She said cases of gonorrhoea in young women were on the rise, but were falling among young men.

Health minister Dawn Primarolo said: "It is a concern that the number of diagnoses of levels of sexually transmitted infections have increased - but these figures must be set in context.

"There has been a 16% increase in the number of people accessing sexual health clinics since 2006.

"That means more people are being screened and therefore detected. It also means more people than ever before are getting the information, tests and advice they need.

"Rapid treatment and detection cuts the risk of transmitting sexually transmitted infections.

"If this increased access is maintained, it could have a significant impact on the control of sexually transmitted infections."

Shadow health minister Anne Milton said: "The Government has been shamefully complacent about tackling public health problems like sexually transmitted infections, and these latest statistics show the cost of their failure.

"Chlamydia accounts for almost a third of new infections, proof that the Government have let down young people with their dithering and delays to their chlamydia screening programme."

Liberal Democrat health spokesman Norman Lamb said: "This shocking increase is a stark reminder of the complacency shown by the Government in tackling this issue.

"The Government is guilty of criminal neglect in slashing public health spending over recent years and massively underspending health promotion budgets.

"This short-sightedness is putting a whole generation at risk of a sexual health crisis.

"It is particularly disturbing to see such a large number of young people contracting STIs.

"The Government must now ensure that all children receive quality sex and relationship education."

Chris Plummer, from the charity British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS), said: "It is difficult to assess the true picture of sexually transmitted infections, because part of the increase in diagnosed infections is undoubtedly due to improvements in access to STI screening, which has been targeted at 16-24-year-olds.

"However, simply advocating condom use and better sex and relationships education does not seem to prevent young people spreading infections - nor does suggesting that they should abstain from sex.

"Getting young people screened and treated with an accessible, discreet and quick service is the answer."