Soaring numbers of gay men are diagnosed with gonorrhoea and syphilis - while under 25s are the worst at spreading chlamydia

Cases of syphilis in England have jumped 76 per cent since 2012, alarming new figures show.

The infection, which can cause stroke, paralysis, blindness or death if left untreated, is becoming more prevalent, particularly among gay men, a report revealed today.

Since 2012, syphilis diagnoses have risen by 76 per cent (from 3,001 to 5,288 in 2015) and gonorrhoea by 53 per per cent to 41,193.

Between 2014 and 2015 alone, there was a 20 per cent rise in syphilis cases and an 11 per cent rise in cases of gonorrhoea.

The figures, published by Public Health England (PHE), show there were 434,456 sexually transmitted infections (STIs) reported in England last year.

 

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Cases of syphilis in men (green) have soared by 75 per cent in just three years while cases in women (red) have remained more steady

 

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The number of both men (green) and women (red) with gonorrhoea have risen since 2006 although men have seen the sharpest rise with more than 30,000 cases last year

Of these, 54,275 were among gay, bisexual or other men who have sex with men, a 10 per cent increase since 2014. 

Overall in 2015, gonorrhoea saw a 21 per cent rise in cases among gay men. Gay men also saw a 19 per cent increase in syphilis. 

The report said: 'High levels of condomless sex probably account for most of this rise.'

Chlamydia was the most commonly diagnosed STI accounting for 46 per cent of diagnoses (200,288 cases), followed by genital warts (68,310 cases).  

Syphilis causes painless infectious sores that lasts up to six weeks. A skin rash and a sore throat can then develop, and further complications can occur. It can be treated with antibiotics if caught early. 

The 2015 statistics represent a small decrease (3 per cent) when compared to 2014, which is primarily due to falls in diagnoses for chlamydia (4 per cent) and genital warts (7 per cent). 

The impact of STIs remains greatest in young people under the age of 25 years and gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, PHE said. 

Young people are routinely offered chlamydia screening but only 13 per cent of young men and 32 per cent of young women were tested in 2015. 

 

 

Women are more likely to get genital herpes (red line) with around 20,000 reported cases last year 

 

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The number of people with genital warts, for both sexes, has dropped slightly in the last decade, Public Health England figures show

 

The table shows the proportion of all male STIs among men who have sex with men with syphilis being the most common infection (pictured green)

The decrease in chlamydia diagnoses in 2015 is mainly due to a reduction in testing despite national recommendations advising young people to get tested every year or on changing partners.

And the large fall in genital warts seen this year in young women is an expected positive effect of the national HPV vaccination programme, experts explained. 

Dr Gwenda Hughes, head of STI surveillance at PHE said: 'The new statistics show STI rates are still very high among gay men and young adults.

'We need to do more to raise awareness about STIs and how they can be prevented, especially the effectiveness of using condoms. 

'We recommend that anyone having sex with a new or casual partner uses condoms and tests regularly for HIV and STIs.

'It is also vital to ensure there is easy access to STI testing and treatment services that meet the needs of local populations.'

Both chlamydia and genital herpes were most common within the 20 to 24 age range and lease common in 45 to 64-year-old men

The same can be said for females with the 20 to 24 age range (red) having the highest rates per 100,000 of the population. Women aged 45 to 64 were also least likely to get chlamydia or genital herpes

Genevieve Edwards, director of policy at Marie Stopes UK said: "These statistics should set alarm bells ringing about the availability of sexual health services for young people and men who have sex with men.

'When a drop in chlamydia diagnosis is due to a lack of testing rather than falling incidence, we risk losing all the ground gained by years of investment in the chlamydia screening programme.

'This will be costly, upsetting for those affected, and a wholly preventable own-goal.'

Family Planning Association (FPA) chief executive Natika Halil said: 'As we continue to hear about sexual health services being moved, restricted or closed, we reiterate our common-sense call on the Government to prioritise investment in sexual health services in this country.

'Further, local authorities need to pay close attention to what is happening in their area and invest in prevention and education services to help bring down this still very high number of STIs.'

Dr Michael Brady, medical director at Terrence Higgins Trust, said the figures showed there was still a lot to do to address the nation’s poor sexual health and rates of STIs in those most at risk. 

He said they were concerned to see 'alarming inequalities' in cases of STIs across the population.

'Young people, and men who have sex with men (MSM), are still bearing the brunt of STIs and poor sexual health, with people under the age of 25 accounting for 65 per cent of all new STI diagnoses last year.'  

 

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Syphilis was most common and saw the sharpest rise in men between the ages of 25 and 34, the chart shows

 

Cases of syphilis are far less in common in females of all age groups than in men, Public Health England figures show

 

Men aged 45 to 64 are least likely to develop genital warts, according to figures released today

 

Cases of genital wards have fallen in most age groups per 100,000 of the population, the chart shows

 

Cases of gonorrhoea in men have risen in all age brackets with it mist notable in 20to 24-year-olds

 

Cases of gonorrhoea among women are quite stable compared to men, with cases have fallen slightly within the 15 to 19 age bracket