Sexually transmitted infections rise again
Pastor Dale Morgan
Sexually transmitted infections rise again*
By staff and agencies
Last Updated: 2:59pm BST 20/07/2007
New figures show that sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are still
rising across the UK, particularly among young people.
A report from the Health Protection Agency on the spread of diseases
paints an ever worsening picture of the nation's sexual health.
There was a two per cent rise in the number of new cases of all STIs
diagnosed at clinics between 2005 and 2006, figures showed.
Genital herpes was a particular cause for concern, with a nine per cent
increase between 2005 and 2006.
Among teenage girls aged between 16 and 19, there was a 16 per cent rise
in cases genital herpes, which cannot be cured but is treatable.
Genital warts in this female age group also increased five per cent, but
gonorrhoea fell three per cent and chlamydia was down one per cent.
Earlier this week, a study was published suggesting that delays in the
treatment of people with STIs could be blamed for facilitating the
spread of disease.
Of four clinics surveyed, more than 3,000 patients with symptoms were
typically having to wait a week before receiving any treatment.
During that time 44.8 per cent of men and 58 per cent of women continued
to have sex, seven per cent of patients had sex with more than one
partner, and 4.2 per cent had unprotected sex with a new partner.
Researchers from the Brighton and Sussex Medical School thought that
"walk-in" clinics which could provide same-day treatment might be the
answer.
Study leader Jackie Cassell said: "We found that the availability of
walk-in slots, slots you could attend by seeking care on the day, was
the most important factor in enabling quick access to care."
About a quarter of patients visited their GP before attending a
genito-urinary medicine clinic and so ended up having to wait longer for
treatment than those who went straight to the clinic.