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Urgent Gonorrhoea Warning Issued By Doctor As Number Of STI Cases Double In The UK

Symptoms of gonorrhoea include discharge, pain or burning during urination, and in women, abnormal vaginal bleeding between periods with one doctor warning of a spike in cases

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Gonorrhoea: The facts and how to prevent the infection

The number of sexually transmitted disease (STI) cases has rocketed in the UK in the last year sparking a stark warning by a doctor.

Last week, the UK Health Security Agency revealed last week the number of STI diagnoses is up by 24 per cent compared with 2021.

There were 392,500 cases by the end of 2022 with gonorrhoea being the greatest increase in diagnosis.

The number of cases has urged by a staggering 50 per cent over 12 months from 54,661 to 82,592 cases, Daily Star reports.

Dr Babak Ashrafi, who specialises in sexual health, has answered some crucial questions about gonorrhoea - and shared some urgent warnings.

The number of sexually transmitted disease (STI) cases has rocketed in the UK (

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Getty Images/iStockphoto)

The medic, who is working with Superdrug Online Doctor, first explained that gonorrhoea is an infection caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

The STI is passed through unprotected vaginal, anal or oral sex.

Dr Ashrafi said: "Like all STIs, practising safe sex is the best way to prevent getting gonorrhoea.

"It is important to remember to always use a condom, do not share sex toys and ensure you get regularly tested for sexually transmitted diseases."

Brits are being warned to have regular STI tests (

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Getty Images/Science Photo Library RF)

He warned if left untreated it can lead to serious health problems, particularly for women who can end up with pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).

PID is a severe infection of the reproductive organs that can cause chronic pelvic pain and even leave women infertile.

Untreated in men it can cause epididymitis - a painful inflammation of the testicles.

Symptoms of gonorrhoea include discharge from the penis or vagina, pain or burning during urination, and in women, discomfort during sexual intercourse and abnormal vaginal bleeding between periods.

But Dr Ashrafi warns some people with gonorrhoea may not experience any symptoms at all as one in 10 men and almost half of the women show no signs whatsoever.

"If gonorrhoea is not treated correctly or if the infection is resistant to the prescribed antibiotics, it can persist in the body, " the medic warns.

"Treatment failure can be a result of some strains of gonorrhoea that have become resistant to antibiotics, incorrect diagnosis or because you've continued to have unprotected sex with an infected partner.

"If you have been treated for gonorrhoea but your symptoms persist or return, it's important to seek medical advice immediately.

"Your doctor may recommend additional testing to determine the cause of treatment failure and prescribe a different antibiotic regimen."

For more advice on sexual health visit the NHS website here.

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Do Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) Affect Fertility? Find Out

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Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) not only pose health problems, but they can also have a long-term effect on fertility, for both men and women. STIs can have a significant impact on reproductive health, potentially leading to infertility or complications during pregnancy, in addition to the physical and emotional toll, experts believe.

"With many individuals affected, it is crucial to recognise the implications of STIs on fertility and take proactive steps to address the issue," advises Dr Kshitiz Murdia, CEO & Co-Founder, Indira IVF. He suggests that prevention, early detection, and comprehensive treatment strategies can be adopted if one is aware.

Image: Shutterstock

Dr Kshitiz shares some typical consequences to be aware Reduced FertilityUntreated STIs like chlamydia, gonorrhoea and Mycoplasma genitalium can lead to inflammation and damage in the reproductive organs. In women, these infections can cause scarring in the fallopian tubes and uterus, resulting in reduced fertility or infertility. In men, untreated STIs can lead to inflammation and scarring in the epididymis, prostate, or seminal vesicles, affecting sperm production and quality.

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)If left untreated, certain STIs can progress to PID in women. PID is an infection impacting reproductive organs, including the uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries. The infection can cause inflammation, scarring and adhesions in these organs, leading to infertility or an increased risk of ectopic pregnancies (when a fertilised egg implants outside the uterus).

Blocked Fallopian TubesSTIs like gonorrhoea and chlamydia can cause inflammation and scarring in the fallopian tubes. The scarring can lead to blockages or adhesions, preventing the sperm from reaching the egg for fertilisation. This can result in infertility or an increased risk of ectopic pregnancies.

Erectile DysfunctionSome STIs, such as syphilis, can cause complications in the blood vessels and nerves, leading to erectile dysfunction (ED) in men. ED can make it difficult to achieve or maintain an erection, affecting fertility by hindering the ability to successfully engage in sexual intercourse and conceive.

Image: Shutterstock

Testicular Infection And DamageUntreated STIs like gonorrhoea can cause infection in the testicles, leading to inflammation and potential damage. Testicular infection and damage can result in reduced sperm production and quality, affecting fertility in men.

Increased Risk Of MiscarriageUntreated STIs can increase the risk of miscarriage and pregnancy complications in both men and women. Infections like syphilis and herpes can pose risks to foetal development and overall reproductive health, potentially resulting in miscarriages or adverse outcomes during pregnancy.

Prevention And TreatmentPreventing STIs is paramount to safeguarding fertility. Safe sexual practices, including consistent use of condoms, regular STI screenings, and limiting sexual partners, can help reduce the risk of infection. Prompt diagnosis and treatment of STIs are crucial to prevent the progression of infection and minimize the likelihood of fertility-related complications.

Also Read: Find Out The Hidden Impact Of An Undiagnosed Endometriosis

Gonorrhea And Syphilis Diagnoses Are At Their Highest In Decades—here's What You Need To Know About These STIs

The latest data from the UK Health Security Agency shows that diagnoses of gonorrhea and syphilis have surged in the last year. Shockingly, gonorrhea rates are the highest they have been since records began in 1918.

Gonorrhea has increased from 71,133 diagnoses per year before the pandemic to 82,592 in 2022. It's now the second most commonly diagnosed STI behind chlamydia. In people aged 15-24, rates of gonorrhea almost doubled in 2021 compared to the year before. Syphilis, which in the early 2000s was almost non-existent in the UK, has increased to 8,692 diagnoses in 2022.

Both these sexually transmitted infections were known by Victorian society. Syphilis was especially feared because of the visible and debilitating symptoms it causes. But the advent of testing and antibiotic treatment has meant most people have forgotten about them—and the risks they can pose.

What symptoms do they cause?

Gonorrhea

Gonorrhea is caused by a small round bacteria called gonococcus which infects the urethra, testes, prostate and anus in men, and the vagina, cervix, womb and anus in women. It's passed from one person to another during unprotected sex.

Untreated, it causes a pus-filled discharge or "drip" from the penis and severe pain while urinating. In women symptoms can be less obvious, but include a watery, green, yellow or sometimes bloodstained vaginal discharge, and pain when urinating.

If the infection spreads to the womb and ovaries this causes pelvic inflammatory disease. Symptoms include fever and abdominal pain. Pelvic inflammatory disease is treatable but can lead to long-term complications even after the infection has subsided—including fertility problems and greater chance of ectopic pregnancies.

Gonorrhea used to be easily treated by antibiotics. But in the last ten years, several extremely drug resistant strains have been detected worldwide (including in the UK), making some infections difficult to treat. Drug resistant strains can happen when an infection is partially treated with the wrong antibiotic, or if a person stops treatment before the infection is completely gone. There's a real and frightening risk that gonorrhea could become untreatable once again, as it was in the 19th century.

For this reason, it's essential to get diagnosed and treated if you're experiencing any symptoms. Current treatment involves an injection of a single antibiotic alongside close follow-up to ensure the infection is eliminated.

Syphilis

Syphilis is much less common than gonorrhea, but it can cause much more harm.

The infection is caused by a small spiral bacterium called Treponema pallidum. Without treatment, this bacterium stays in the body and can cause complications that can happen 20 years or more after the infection.

It can also be passed from mother to baby in the womb, and can cause stillbirth or congenital syphilis. This means the child is born infected with syphilis and may develop the unpleasant complications of the infection in childhood. Every pregnant woman in the UK is screened for syphilis. If detected, the mother will be treated—which also protects the baby from harm.

Syphilis causes three stages of disease. The first stage is a painless lump or ulcer on the genitals or infected area. This usually goes away in a matter of weeks. The second stage is a full-body rash, sometimes with a sore throat and swollen lymph glands. These symptoms can also settle without treatment, though the person remains infected and infectious. The disease now enters a latent phase where it stays in the body while showing no symptoms. It can also still be passed to sexual partners or from pregnant women to their babies.

In about a third of infected people who are untreated, the disease can return after a number of years as the third stage of tertiary syphilis. This causes a range of symptoms which were dreaded in the years before effective treatment—including skin and bone disfigurations, nerve pain, heart problems, deafness, blindness, dementia and other neurological symptoms such as difficulty walking and incontinence.

Fortunately syphilis is still very treatable using penicillin or similar antibiotics. As you might expect, once a case is diagnosed, great efforts are made not only to cure the affected person, but to trace and screen sexual partners—going back many years if necessary.

Why have rates increased?

It's not entirely clear why rates of syphilis and gonorrhea have increased so rapidly in the UK. In part it may be due to a "bounce back" from the restrictions of the pandemic years, and the fact that people were not able to access diagnosis and treatment as readily during that time.

Young people may also have missed out on sex education during the pandemic and may not know how to properly protect themselves from STIs.

Sexual health services in England have also experienced funding cuts—making it more difficult for some people to access sexual health advice, diagnosis and treatment. Data shows that rates of gonorrhea in particular are sensitive to social and political change, including changes to funding for sexual health services.

What can I do to protect myself?

The best way to protect yourself and your partners against gonorrhea or syphilis is to get tested before starting a new relationship, and to use condoms with new or casual sexual partners.

If you have a symptom you're worried about, get it checked. Self-test kits for gonorrhea and syphilis are available online in some areas or you can go to a sexual health clinic if you prefer.

If you're notified by a partner or clinic that you've been in contact with someone who's been diagnosed with one of these infections, attend a clinic to get screened and treated if necessary.

We're fortunate that both syphilis and gonorrhea are still treatable once diagnosed. But it's important to know about them and to get tested and treated promptly.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

Citation: Gonorrhea and syphilis diagnoses are at their highest in decades—here's what you need to know about these STIs (2023, June 9) retrieved 22 June 2023 from https://medicalxpress.Com/news/2023-06-gonorrhea-syphilis-highest-decadeshere-stis.Html

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