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STI Rates Surge in the European Union
In contrast to the encouraging news from the most recent report on sexually transmitted infection (STI) rates in the U.S., a report published by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) shows a striking rise in STIs across the Atlantic.
The new data, which covers reported cases of STIs in 2023 across 29 countries in the European Union/European Economic Area (EU/EEA), shows:
- Cases of gonorrhea jumped 31% compared to 2022 and more than 300% since 2014. The increases were highest among younger people (women in their early 20s and men ages 25-34) and men who have sex with men (MSM), similar to trends in the U.S.
- Confirmed cases of chlamydia were up 3% since 2022 and 13% since 2014.
- Reported cases of syphilis increased 13% over the previous year and jumped two-fold since 2014. While the highest rates are in MSM, rates of syphilis increased among women of all ages.
As in the U.S., public health officials in Europe are particularly concerned about congenital syphilis—when the infection passes to infants during pregnancy. Syphilis during pregnancy can lead to miscarriage or stillbirth, and infants born with syphilis can have lifelong health issues. But timely testing and treatment can prevent this.
The EU/EEA saw syphilis cases in newborns increase slightly, from 73 in 2022 to 78 in 2023. In the U.S., 3,800 cases were reported in 2023, the highest number reported in one year since 1994, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Syphilis testing is a critical part of prenatal care. Experts believe testing and treatment of pregnant individuals would prevent nearly 90% of congenital syphilis cases.
Data like this don’t reveal why STIs are increasing, but public health authorities around the globe point to a combination of factors. These include increased testing with more sophisticated technologies, fewer young people consistently using condoms, and the erosion of public health resources that support STI control programs. Less discussed, but still important, is the tremendous impact of shame and stigma on accessing sexual health care.
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