Sexually transmitted diseases are on the rise across Europe. The increase in syphilis and gonorrhea cases is particularly surprising, according to data published on Monday by the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).
There were almost 100,000 confirmed cases of gonorrhea in Europe in 2023, an increase of 31 percent compared to the previous year and more than 300 percent compared to 2014. This is also the highest recorded rate of the disease in Europe since the ECDC began surveillance of sexually transmitted diseases in 2009.
The increase was seen across a variety of age and demographic groups, including men who have sex with men and heterosexual men and women. The highest rates among women were in the age group from 20 to 24 years old, and this is also the group with the largest increase in 2023 (46%). For men, the highest rates were recorded in the age group of 25 to 34 years. If left untreated, gonorrhea can lead to significant health problems, such as pelvic inflammatory disease and infertility in both men and women.
The agency also warned of the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance in gonorrhea, with drug-resistant strains emerging that make current treatments less effective.
The number of syphilis cases is also on the rise. There were 40,000 confirmed cases in Europe in 2023, a 13 percent increase compared to 2022 and a 100 percent increase compared to 2014.
Syphilis is more common among men. The highest rates were recorded among men aged 25 to 34. Most cases of syphilis (72%) are recorded in homosexual men. However, compared to 2022, syphilis rates have increased among women of all ages. Untreated syphilis can cause long-term complications on the heart and nervous system, and if a pregnant woman has untreated syphilis, the baby can suffer severe complications.
Despite the slowing growth of chlamydia reports in 2023, it remains the most commonly reported bacterial sexually transmitted disease in Europe. In 2023, there were more than 230,000 reported cases, an increase of 13 percent compared to 2014. The infection continues to disproportionately affect young people, with the highest rates among women aged 20 to 24.
The new data confirm the upward trend already seen in 2022, when gonorrhea and syphilis cases increased by 48 percent and 34 percent, respectively, compared to the previous year.
There are several hypotheses as to why cases of sexually transmitted diseases have increased. Part of the increase is due to more testing, but changes in sexual risk behaviour, such as reduced condom use, could also play a role in the trend.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) for Europe last year sounded the alarm over a decline in condom use among teenagers in Europe, which is increasing the risk of sexually transmitted infections and unintended pregnancies.
The ECDC said the findings highlight “the urgent need for increased public awareness, prevention, testing and treatment efforts to address this growing public health problem”.
