Young Women At Risk From STIs
by Patricia Montgomery, LincsMag Writer.
Date: 01 September 2010
Young women most at risk from sexually transmitted infections...
The Health Protection Agency (HPA) has announced that 15 - 24 year olds, particularly young women continue to be the most affected by sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the North East.
New figures released today show that around two thirds of new STI diagnoses were in young women.
In 2009, 78% (152 out of 195) of all new gonorrhoea diagnoses and 73% (1,630 out of 2,221) of all new genital warts were in young women under the age of 25 in the North East.
Of all new chlamydia diagnoses within the region, 81% (2,121 out of 2,618) were in women under 25 - this is in part due to more sensitive tests and community based testing targeting the under 25's in England.
In men in the North East, over half of new STI diagnoses were in those aged under 25. They accounted for 56% (219 out of 388) of male gonorrhoea diagnoses, 57% (1,396 out of 2,436) of male genital warts, and 65% (1,803 out of 2,784) of male chlamydia diagnoses. High rates of STI diagnoses have also been found among men who have sex with men.
Dr Kirsty Foster, Health Protection Consultant and sexual health lead for the HPA in the North East said: "These latest figures show that, in common with the rest of the UK, poor sexual health is a serious problem among young adults in the North East.
"In particular, the data also highlights the vulnerability of young women. Many studies have shown that young adults are more likely to have unsafe sex and often they lack the skills and confidence to negotiate safer sex.
"Re-infection is also a worrying issue - the numbers we're seeing in teenagers are of particular concern as this suggests teenagers are repeatedly putting their own, as well as others, long term health at risk from STIs."
Across all age groups, more than 20,000 new STIs were reported to the agency in 2009 from sexual health clinics across the North East and community based chlamydia testing.
Last year, a total of 20,816 new cases of STIs were diagnosed in the North East - an increase from 19,916 in 2008. This represents an increase of 5% on the previous year, continuing the steady upward trend we have seen over the past decade.
The Top Five Diagnosed STIs
The five most commonly diagnosed STIs, both nationally and locally, continue to be chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis, genital herpes and genital warts. The most commonly diagnosed STI in the North East in 2009 was chlamydia, with 10,477 new cases - an increase of 5% on the previous year.
Herpes was the STI which increased the most in the North East last year, from 999 in 2008 to 1,215 in 2009, an increase of 22%. Nationally figures increased by 5%.
New diagnoses of gonorrhoea and syphilis also increased over the period although cases of genital warts have stabilised.
Dr Foster added: "We know that the rise in new diagnoses partly reflects the increase in testing, such as through the National Chlamydia Screening Programme, and some tests we are using for gonorrhoea and herpes are more sensitive, which means more cases are being detected.
"However, we know that the rise in STIs is also due in part to unsafe sexual behaviour. Substantial numbers of young people remain undiagnosed, untreated and unaware of the risk they pose both to their own health and that of their sexual partner. It's crucial that we continue to communicate messages about safe sex to them, including condom wearing, and the importance of getting checked out at their nearest GUM clinic if they have had unprotected sex with a new partner.
"Quick diagnosis is of the essence, so anyone who thinks they may have put themselves at risk of contracting an STI, or who has symptoms of an STI should go to their local GUM clinic at the earliest opportunity. Sexually active under 25 year olds should be tested for chlamydia every year or when they change their partner."
Sexual Health Profile
For the first time the HPA can provide new STI infection figures by local area of residence in the North East, rather than by clinic attended. This will help Primary Care Trusts and other local health services to achieve a greater understanding of the sexual health profile of their population which will help them develop local initiatives to target specific groups at high risk of infection.
Dr Roberta Marshall, Regional Director for the HPA in the North East, said: "These are all preventable infections and it is a cause of considerable concern that we are still seeing increases across the North East, especially the sharp regional rise in gonorrhoea cases we have seen, as we know drug resistance is emerging.
"These annual HPA reports play a crucial role in enhancing current strategies to control and ultimately prevent STI's, and we must now work with our partners, both within and outside the NHS, so that they can continue to use these figures to target information and health services to the people who are becoming more affected within our region."
Note
The National Chlamydia Screening Programme is a control and prevention programme targeted at the highest risk group for chlamydia infection in England, young people under 25 who are sexually active. Since November 2005 National Co-ordination of the programme has been the responsibility of the Health Protection Agency. To find out more visit Chlamydiascreening.NHS
Treatment of gonorrhoea is of concern as new figures suggest an emergence of potential resistance to drugs used to treat the infection. The annual GRASP (Gonococcal Resistance to Antimicrobials Surveillance Programme) report 2009 has shown that the drugs we use in the UK to treat gonorrhoea are still effective but are showing that the bacteria are becoming less sensitive to these drugs. Gonorrhoea may become very difficult to treat within the next five years. Potentially this means that in the case of gonorrhoea, practicing safe sex may eventually be the only way of controlling the infection if new antibiotic treatments cannot be found.
