Across the UK, statistics have shown young people within the ages of 18 to 24 are having more sex than any other age group in the country – around seven times or more a week in the past year on average. And while sex can be positive and healthy, its proven that there is small population of people who don’t know how to have safe sex or don’t see themselves as high-risk for sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
Up until April 2021, 619 out of 100,000 people under the age of 25 in England had been diagnosed with sexually transmitted infections like syphilis or gonorrhoea. And, for every 100,000 people in the UK, there are approximately 251 women are affected the most by chlamydia. While, for every 100,000 men, over 136 of them will have been affected by gonorrhoea.
To find out more, we looked at some of the UK’s most populated cities to identify some of the country’s STI how many people are affected by STIs and the most common STIs in each area.
UK areas with the highest numbers of STIs per 100,000 people
Which areas of the UK have the highest numbers of STIs? London’s currently taking the crown, with every area in the top 10 of STIs per 100 people being based in the capital city.
The most common STIs in the areas with the highest numbers are chlamydia and gonorrhoea, with the highest number of cases in Lambeth, South London at 2,634 cases per 100,000 people.
The average number of syphilis cases is much lower, at 131 cases per 100,000 people across the UK. However, there are some areas where syphilis rates are much higher, like Southampton, with 764 confirmed cases for every 100,000 people. Rates for this STI are also high in Brighton and Portsmouth.
UK areas with the lowest numbers of STIs per 100,000 people
To steer clear of STIs in the UK, you’ll probably want to head to some of the more rural locations on the list. Less people might mean less sexual partners, meaning a lower chance of getting an STI, though it’s not always about the numbers of partners you may have.
Here are the areas with the lowest numbers of STIs:
Chlamydia is the most common STI in eight of the ten cities with the fewest number of STIs overall. This is followed by genital warts, which impacts five of the ten areas analysed.
The Prevalence of STIs in the UK is Increasing
According to what people are searching for online across the entire country, the prevalence of STIs could be on the rise. There’s been an increase in searches, which could be down to people just looking for information. Or it could be a sign that more people are worried about contracting one of them.
- The most common STI receiving the most Google searches in the UK this year was herpes, at an ultimate high of 74,000 searches per month, followed by HPV (74,000 searches per month), syphilis (49,500 searches per month), chlamydia (49,000 searches per month) and gonorrhoea (40,500 searches per month).
- Search trend data shows a 10% increase in searches for STIs between 2021 and 2022.
- The top 3 areas searching for ‘sexual health’ are Croydon, Hambleton and Thornhill.
Why is Sexual Health Important?
Sexual health should be a priority in your life from the moment you start being sexually active. This includes taking care of your physical health by getting regular check-ups and being more educated about your body. Your mental health is important too, as are your rights, your safety and having access to the resources you need.
Neglecting your sexual health and wellbeing, both physically and mentally can have a serious impact on your happiness, and result in things like poor self-esteem, unwanted pregnancies and STIs.
Common Questions About STIs
Wondering about STIs but too worried to ask? It's important to understand more about STIs, their impact and how they can affect your body, whether you’re sexually active or not.
Here are some of the most common questions about STIs:
What does STI stand for?
STI stands for sexually transmitted infection. It also used to be known as a sexually transmitted disease (STD), but this was changed as not all sexually transmitted infections turn into a disease. An STI is typically passed from one person to another during sexual contact. An STI can be transmitted whether you have sex once or numerous times, and can impact everyone, no matter your sexual orientation, number of partners or gender.
Can you get an STI without having sex?
Yes. While STIs are predominantly passed through sexual contact, there are other ways that infections can be transmitted. Skin-on-skin contact can lead to an STI if someone has genital warts or open sores from syphilis. Chlamydia and gonorrhoea can be transmitted through oral sex and sharing razors or needles can lead to the transmission of blood-borne infections like HIV or hepatitis.
How do you know if you have an STI?
Some STIs produce no symptoms at all, and for those that do the symptoms differ. However, if you experience any of the following, you should get a check-up immediately:
- Unusual discharge
- Pain when urinating
- Blisters, sores or rashes in the genital area
- Unexplained lumps or pain in the genital area
How often should I get my sexual health checked?
This largely depends on how sexually active you are. If you have no regular partner or fewer sexual interactions, you should get checked at least every six months. If you have several sexual partners or a regular sexual partner, it's a good idea to get checked more regularly, so aim for two to three month check-ups. Find out more about what to expect in a sexual health check-up.
Can you get an STI from kissing?
The bad news is that you can get STIs from kissing. The most common infections that you can get from a kiss are the herpes simplex virus (HSV) and cytomegalovirus (CMS). Whether you’ve been with your partner for a long time or just met someone new, it’s still important to remember to stay safe – if your partner has sores on their lips, or you’re experiencing pain, swelling or blisters around your mouth, it’s best to get it checked out (and skip the kisses for a little while).
If you’re worried about catching an STI don’t be afraid to communicate your worries with your partner and schedule an STI test.
Enjoy Safe Sex at University this 2023!
Your time at university is a rite of passage. Unsurprisingly, it's also one of the most common times for some students to visit a sexual health clinic.
Previously, research showed that around 25% of first-year students are likely to pick up an STI. Since then, data shows that searches for STIs have increased around 5%, suggesting nearly 30% of students will pick up an STI this Freshers’ Week.
With all the excitement building up, it’s likely that your time at university will be filled with meeting new people and making new connections. While we expect you to make the most of this once in a lifetime opportunity, please also remember to stay safe!
For more information on how to stay sexually safe, find your closest sexual health clinic.
Sources
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/sexually-transmitted-infections-stis-annual-data-tables
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