People are being urged to take precautions when having sex as figures show Nottingham has higher rates of gonorrhoea and chlamydia than the national average. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has just released data showing that a record number of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) were recorded in the East Midlands last year.
Across the region, diagnoses of gonorrhoea were up 90% compared to 2021, with 4,627 cases being recorded. That figure is also up 14.4% on pre-pandemic figures. Smaller increases were recorded for diagnoses of syphilis, which went up 30% compared to 2021, while the highest risk group for STIs is people between the ages of 20 and 24.
In Nottingham itself, the public health team says rates of some infections were higher than the national average. There were 891 gonorrhoea cases last year, a rate of 279 per 100,000 people - higher than the national average of 146 per 100,000.
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There were also 2,067 cases of chlamydia in people aged between 15 and 24, a rate of 2,887 per 100,000 people - higher than the national rate of 1,680 per 100,000. Lucy Hubber, Director of Public Health at Nottingham City Council said: "The council, sexual health services and partners in Nottingham are working to help raise awareness and prevent the spread of sexually transmitted infections (STI) in Nottingham.
"The UKHSA 2022 figures do show an increase of STIs post-pandemic. However, this is partly down to an increase in the amount of testing taking place in Nottingham, which is more than that for England, and therefore we are identifying more cases.
"Young people under 25 years of age remain the most likely to be diagnosed with STIs and the rise in cases also shows an increase in transmission within our city. We would remind people, whatever their age or sexual orientation, that when having sex, wear a condom and get tested regularly to help prevent the spread of infections."
Across Nottinghamshire, STI diagnoses increased by 31.3% between 2021 and 2022, with a particularly large increase in cases of gonorrhoea, though the county's public health team says this is in line with an increasing trend over the past decade. Director of Public Health for Nottinghamshire County Council, Jonathan Gribbin said: "There are a number of reasons for the increase in diagnosed STIs.
"These include to the opening up of society following the end of COVID-19 restrictions and the increase in testing nationally and locally, including increased access to online testing. Looking after your sexual health is a vital part of taking care of your physical and mental health.
"If left undiagnosed and untreated, common STIs can cause complications and long-term health problems, such as adverse pregnancy outcomes. That is why it's important to get testing and treatment early if you experience symptoms, and to access an STI check annually or after a change of sexual partner.
"People are encouraged to use condoms to protect against STIs and prevent unplanned pregnancy, with annual STI testing also advised. Young people, under 25 years of age, remain the most likely to be diagnosed with sexually transmitted infections and those that are sexually active are particularly encouraged to access an STI check annually or if they change sexual partners."
"People are encouraged to access the free, confidential and open access services that are available across Nottinghamshire." Dr Benjamin Rush, Consultant in Communicable Disease Control at UKHSA East Midlands, added: "STIs aren't just an inconvenience, they can have a major impact on your health and that of any sexual partners.
"Condoms are the best defence, but if you didn't use one the last time you had sex with a new or casual partner, get tested to detect any potential infections early and prevent passing them on to others. Testing is important because you may not have any symptoms of an STI."
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