The UK, and more specifically England, has recorded the highest number of sexually transmitted infections, like gonorrhoea and chlamydia, ever. From the research conducted by the UKHSA, the number has increased by 50% compared to 2022, and encouraging people to begin practising safe sex and using protection has become a priority. The agency also encourages people to get STD Testing Profiles to know their status, get treatment and stop the spread. The infections have majorly affected people between 15 and 24 years, with the agency confirming that the increased number of detected cases is due to the increased number of examinations people take. Cutting down the budget that caters to sexual health services has been the main culprit to the spread of these diseases. Today, sexual health clinics cannot afford to provide an STI Profile Test Report due to the displacement of the services due to budget cuts.
Therefore, the best solution to see a decline in the number of STI cases is to fund and provide resources to sexual health facilities fully.
Helping to Understand How It Is Transmitted
A new figure shows that gonorrhoea records the highest last year, going to this year, the highest recorded since 1918. Gonorrhea is transmitted sexually by the gonorrhoea bacterium. The most common symptoms people experience include yellow discharge, bleeding between periods, and pain while urinating. Note that these symptoms do not always indicate the presence of gonorrhoea. Screening is crucial to confirm the presence of infection. If the infection is left without proper treatment, it can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease or infertility. The worst thing is that it is possible to pass the infection to the child during pregnancy.
The rise in gonorrhoea cases is an excellent reminder for people to use protection during sex and get examined for STIs. Exploring whether you have the symptoms is crucial to help minimize the risks of passing the disease to another person. Getting the proper treatment to prevent more complications is vital so it will be easy to address the problem.
Cases Recorded the Highest for 75 Years in England
UKHSA figures indicate that syphilis cases have increased by more than 15% from last year, reaching the highest number since 1948. Even though syphilis symptoms may not be easy to recognize, you can notice them in different stages. Early and late syphilis have symptoms, while latent syphilis does not have symptoms. The common symptoms include painless ulcers appearing anywhere on your body, painless rash, warty growth, white pots on cheeks and tongue, hair loss, loss of appetite, and flu-like illness. However, there are instances the ulcers appear on the vulva, cervix, and penis. The mouth, tonsils, lips, buttocks, and fingers are less common areas where ulcers occur. The ulcers take about six weeks to heal completely. If you don’t get treatment during this period, the syphilis will spread to other parts. Untreated syphilis can damage the nervous system, brain, heart, and bones.
It is critical to get testing right away if you suspect you might have syphilis. A sexually transmitted disease examination is crucial even when you are not experiencing symptoms. If you decide to be examined by a doctor, you must provide a blood sample. The professional may also examine your genitals, including the vagina, penis, foreskin, and urethra. They can also utilize a sab to collect fluid from the ulcers. If you decide to check for syphilis at home, you can buy the STD Profile kit, take a blood sample, and follow the instructions on the equipment.
Getting it
Dr Katy Sinka of the UKHSA cannot insist enough on getting examined and using condoms during sex with casual partners. You can get STIs from places like a sexual health clinic. It is also possible to get screening for sexual infections in a contraceptive clinic or a private clinic. Even better, you can order an STD Profile kit online to use at home. Even though most STIs are treatable, the bad news is that some, like the super-gonorrhoea, are becoming resistant to antibiotics. Some of them, like herpes, will remain in the body, but drugs are available to reduce their symptoms and complications.
Guide According to the UKHSA
The UK Health Security Agency has provided a guide to checking for sexually transmitted diseases. Today, many sexual health facilities in the UK offer sexually transmitted disease sampling kits for people without the symptoms or who need a routine check-up from home. These home kits are crucial for examining common STIs like gonorrhoea and chlamydia, and you only need to take samples from your home and send them to the lab for analysis before you get the results after a few days. It is crucial to get the examination if you have a new sexual partner recently or suspect you have an infection.
Regular examination for STIs is essential to maintain your sexual health and stop the spread should you have the infection. The good thing about the sampling kits is that they do not bear your details, making them confidential. Therefore, a home kit is the best choice if you are sceptical or too shy to go to a facility for an examination. If you have the infection, the expert will advise you on the treatment and offer more support. Getting immediate treatment once diagnosed with an STI is advisable to prevent long-term complications or pass it on to others. Fortunately, sexual health services in the UK are free and confidential. The facilities also offer treatment and examinations for HIV and STDs. So, get more active about sexual infections and the importance of regular testing.