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A recent study shows that from 2021 to 2022, the number of syphilis and chlamydia infections per 100,000 women aged 20 to 24 across Europe increased by 50% and 18%, respectively. Among men in the same age group, syphilis and chlamydia diagnoses increased by 41% and 14%, respectively.
Another sexually transmitted disease that increased in 15 European countries from 2021 to 2022 was gonorrhea, with cases increasing by 48% among young men and women. “The significant increase we’re seeing among young women is a concern about not receiving treatment.” gonorrhea “Infection can lead to complications such as pelvic inflammatory disease, chronic pain, and subsequent infertility,” the researchers wrote in a study published in the journal Science. euro monitoring.
“Urgent action is needed to raise awareness among young people about the importance of condom use and testing. Understanding the factors driving these increases is essential for effective public health interventions. “further research is needed,” they stressed. “National experts have offered several possible theoretical hypotheses about the factors driving these increases. Changes in testing policies due to the expansion of free and easily accessible tests (e.g. online) may lead to increased Case detection may have improved in some settings, as well as a shift to more sampling.”
“However, the test positivity rate is increasing in the Netherlands, indicating that the increase in diagnoses is not solely due to an increase in testing. Another hypothesis that has been raised is that gonorrhea “The bloodlines driving this increase among heterosexual populations may show no or mild symptoms, or may be more susceptible to infection,” the researchers explained.
“The groups with the highest increases are at the age when first sexual contact would normally take place, and may also be part of a group of young people whose social interactions have been limited during the COVID-19 pandemic. “This may have resulted in different sexual behavior in this group post-pandemic compared to previous cohorts,” the researchers added.
The countries included in this study were Denmark, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia, and Sweden.
Researchers observed an alarming trend in the number of reported sexually transmitted infections among young women aged 20 to 24, increasing by 72.6% in the second half of 2022 and 88.6% in the first half of 2023. The increase in STI cases reported in the second half of 2022 and 25-29 year olds was 18.4% and 25.1%, respectively, and in the first half of 2023 it was 15.3% and 30.4%.
Andrea Ammon, director of the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control, said in a press release:
“Tackling the significant increase in sexually transmitted infections requires urgent attention and a concerted effort. Testing, treatment and prevention are at the heart of our long-term strategy. We are prioritizing sexual health education and We must expand access to testing and treatment services and combat stigma.”
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