Forgotten STIs still affect adults

21 November 2011

Young people are often the focus of advice on looking after their sexual health but the over 25s are being reminded not to put themselves at risk as figures from the Health Protection Agency show that in the South West one third of new diagnoses of gonorrhoea, genital herpes or genital warts are in adults aged 25-40.
 

In 2010, 10,672 people in the South West were diagnosed with gonorrhoea, genital herpes or genital warts, 53% of them in the under 25 age group.  However, 34% were adults aged 25-40, of whom 260 were newly diagnosed with gonorrhoea, 1,000 with genital herpes and about 2,400 with genital warts.

From 2008 to 2010, new diagnoses of gonorrhoea infections in the 25-40s increased by 10%, and of genital herpes by 26%.  The number of newly diagnosed genital warts infections remained steady.

Gonorrhoea can have very serious health effects, especially in women. If left untreated it can cause chronic abdominal pain, pain during intercourse and ultimately lead to infertility.

Anyone who has sex can catch a sexually transmitted infection (STI). People most at risk for STIs are those who have unprotected sex or change partners frequently.  Safe sex and regular testing should remain a priority in adults to prevent infection with gonorrhoea, genital herpes and genital warts.

Everyone can reduce the risk of infection by using condoms every time with all casual sexual partners, and with new partners until both partners have been screened.  Sexual health clinics, genito-urinary medicine (GUM) clinics and GPs all offer free screening services or can arrange for testing.

Dr Isabel Oliver, South West Regional Director of the Health Protection Agency, said:

“We often rightly concentrate on the impact of poor sexual health on young people because of the high rates of sexually transmitted infection in this age group but it is important that those in older age groups remember that the same risks apply from unprotected sex, frequent changes of partner or multiple partners.
 
“Anyone who has sex can get infected, no matter what their age is. There is a good awareness about some infections but people may have forgotten about gonorrhoea, genital herpes and genital warts.”

Dr Gabriel Scally, Regional Director of Public Health, said:

“It is important to be aware that you can have gonorrhoea, genital herpes or genital warts without having symptoms and so be unaware of the infection and unwittingly pass the infection on to others. This is why it is important to use condoms and to have yourself tested regularly if you have had unprotected sex and frequently change partners”. 

Notes to editors 
Data is collected from genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics (also called STI clinics) throughout the UK and does not include diagnoses from other routes such as GP surgeries, pharmacies or the National Chlamydia Screening Programme (NCSP).

Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)
For more information about Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs):
http://www.hpa.org.uk/Topics/InfectiousDiseases/InfectionsAZ/STIs/

Gonorrhoea
Neisseria gonorrhoea is the second most common bacterial STI in the United Kingdom. Young people are most commonly infected, with current rates highest in males aged 20-24 years and females aged 16-19 years. The highest rates are found in London and predominantly urban areas. Gonococcal infection tends to be concentrated in core prevention groups. In the UK these include homosexual/bisexual men and black ethnic minority populations. http://www.hpa.org.uk/web/HPAweb&Page&HPAwebAutoListName/Page/1191942171513

Young women with gonorrhoea can develop pelvic inflammatory disease which occurs when bacteria spread to the cervix (neck of the womb) and damage the reproductive tubes leading to the ovaries.
Symptoms of gonorrhoea can include discharge, and a painful and burning sensation when passing urine.

Genital Herpes
Genital herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection is the most common ulcerative sexually transmitted disease in the UK. Symptoms can start with mild soreness and groups of small painful blisters appearing on the genitals and surrounding areas. Further episodes of these symptoms can occur from time to time as recurrent episodes.
http://www.hpa.org.uk/web/HPAweb&Page&HPAwebAutoListName/Page/1191942127595
Genital herpes infection may cause itching, tingling or pain in the genital area followed by blisters or sores and a burning sensation when passing urine.

Genital Warts
Warts are the most common viral STI diagnosed in the UK, with highest rates of new cases in 20-24 year old men and 16-19 year old women. Warts are found in the genital area. Low risk HPV types 6 and 11 cause the majority of genital warts. The number of genital warts diagnosed in the UK population has continuously risen since records began in 1971. The HPA routinely collects data on STIs from genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics.
http://www.hpa.org.uk/web/HPAweb&Page&HPAwebAutoListName/Page/1191942128136

For full details of screening centres across the South West, visit:
http://www.nhs.uk/worthtalkingabout/Pages/sex-worth-talking-about.aspx
 

Last reviewed: 21 November 2011