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.
Does your child feel it’s okay to talk with you about sex and sexual health? If not, have you thought about who will answer your child’s questions? Only you can tell your child that it’s okay to ask you questions. You want to become askable!
Many methods of birth control that are available today rely on hormones like those that our bodies make naturally. Hormonal methods come in many different forms—from pills to patches to shots—but all of them essentially work the same way.
Our reproductive health is an important part of our sexual health and our overall health. It includes our reproductive organs and our ability to get pregnant or get someone pregnant when we choose.
Anyone who is having penis-in-vagina sex runs the risk of getting pregnant every time they have sex. Even if it’s your first time. Even if you have your period. Even if it’s a full moon and Mercury is in retrograde.
Sexual anatomy typically refers to the both the external sexual organs, like the vulva and penis, and the internal organs involved in reproduction, like the uterus and seminal vesicle. Learn about this part of the body and how it works.
There are many things that fall under the sexual health umbrella—reproductive health, sexually transmitted infections, relationships, gender expression, and so much more.
A new study found that opt-out screenings for all patients in emergency departments caught numerous cases of syphilis and HIV that would have gone undetected under other screening protocols.
A study revealed that the majority of young people would prefer testing for STIs at home over going to a doctor’s office or clinic.
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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