Sharp rise in sexually transmitted infections in Europe, warns EU health agency

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) warned that there is a need for action to address the significant rise in sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the EU/EEA.

New ECDC surveillance reports show a sharp rise in STIs across the continent in 2022, prompting the agency to call for a heightened focus on prevention, testing and treatment.

“Unfortunately, the numbers paint a stark picture, one that demands our immediate attention and action,” said ECDC director Andrea Ammon at a press conference on Thursday (7 March).

Compared to 2021, 2022 saw a 48% rise in gonorrhoea cases, a 34% rise in syphilis cases, and a 16% rise in chlamydia cases.

On top of that, there were also big increases in the cases of lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) and congenital syphilis, which is caused by transmission from mother to fetus.

“These numbers – as big as they are – most likely only represent the tip of the iceberg, because surveillance data may underestimate the true burden of syphilis, gonorrhoea and chlamydia due to difference in testing practices, access to sexual health services and reporting practices across the countries,” Ammon said.

There could be several reasons behind the increases, explained Lina Nerlander, the ECDC’s principal expert in STIs, including “a change in testing practices” such as the wider availability of home tests or changes in sexual behaviour and condom use.

“One hypothesis is that something has changed after the pandemic in terms of sexual behaviour,” Nerlander said, adding that more studies are needed to understand any behavioural changes.

Uncomfortable consequences

STIs such as chlamydia, gonorrhoea and syphilis can all be treated. However, it is not uncommon to be symptom-free despite having an STI, making regular testing, particularly for people who have had unprotected sex, key.

Left untreated, STIs can lead to serious health complications. This includes infertility in the case of chlamydia and gonorrhoea and neurological and cardiovascular issues for syphilis.

According to Ammon, this makes the rise “a significant health concern and indicates an urgent need to strengthen prevention strategies and comprehensive health education”.

“By prioritising testing, treatment and prevention efforts, we can turn the trend and safeguard the health and well-being of our communities,” she added and highlighted that the ECDC is increasing its efforts to support countries’ actions on STIs, including through the implementation of a programme to increase the understanding of countries’ policies and practices “to get a better overview of the situation in the region and to see in which countries the existing efforts need improvements.”

[Edited by Nathalie Weatherald]

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