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:
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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ASHA believes that all people have the right to the information and services that will help them to have optimum sexual health. We envision a time when stigma is no longer associated with sexual health and our nation is united in its belief that sexuality is a normal, healthy, and positive aspect of human life.
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