Gonorrhoea cases hit record high in Scotland last year, figures show

GONORRHOEA cases in Scotland reached record levels last year, according to the latest figures.

A report published by Public Health Scotland on Tuesday found that cases of the sexually transmitted infection (STI) reached a historical high of 19.2 cases per 100,000 people in January 2023.

A total of 5999 gonorrhoea cases were reported in Scotland in 2023, a 56% increase in diagnoses since 2019.

The majority of gonorrhoea diagnoses (64%) were among men, with 70% of all diagnoses coming from four NHS boards: NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, NHS Lothian, NHS Grampian, and NHS Lanarkshire.

Cases have fallen since January 2023 however experts remain concerned after the World Health Organisation warned that drug-resistant strains of the infection are on the rise in other parts of the world.

New diagnoses of chlamydia also increased in 2023, with 13,400 diagnoses representing a 2% increase since 2022.

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While diagnoses of chlamydia remain 23% lower than pre-pandemic levels, experts have expressed concern about the continued rise of STI cases in Scotland.

Most chlamydia diagnoses (55%) were among women, with a majority in those under 25-years-old.

“The continued rise of sexually transmitted infections in Scotland is of significant concern and clearly demonstrates that our approach to sexual health in Scotland must adapt if we are to avert this crisis,” said Alan Eagleson, head of Scotland services at the Terrence Higgins Trust.

“Today’s data shows that rates of gonorrhoea have once again hit historical highs, rising by 56% since 2019.

“Diagnoses of chlamydia are also on the increase – it’s continuing to disproportionately impact young women in Scotland.

Some strains of gonorrhoea have proved resistant to treatment

“This must come as a wake-up call to the Scottish Government and prompt urgent investment into vital sexual health services across the country.”

Jaime Garcia-Iglesias, a Chancellor’s Fellow at the University of Edinburgh’s Centre for Biomedicine, Self and Society (Usher Institute), added that individual behaviour should not be blamed for the rise.

“These figures are similar to what we’ve seen elsewhere in the UK, with record-high numbers of gonorrhea diagnoses and increasing chlamydia,” he said.

“We shouldn’t look at these figures as the result of individual behaviors or risks.

“They are the result of structural issues, namely lack of timely and accessibly sexual health services and poor (if not lacking) sexual health education.

(Image: Public Health Scotland)

“The responsibility rests with the Scottish Government to seriously implement the key principles outlined withing their Action Plan, including online postal-self sampling services for STIs.”

In the wake of pandemic, the Scottish Government published an Action Plan on improving outcomes for sexual health.

Part of this plan involves improving access to sexual health care, which may prove pivotal if the aim of ending new diagnoses of HIV by 2030 is to be achievable.

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“Testing for STIs needs to be made easily accessible for anyone who needs it, starting with the delivery of the Scottish Governments long-promised national STI online postal self-sampling service,” added Eagleson.

“Long-term planning and funding for our essential sexual health services – in both the NHS and third sector – also needs to be prioritised by the Scottish Government so that these services can appropriately react to rising rates of STIs and promote good sexual wellbeing across the country.

“If we are to ensure that everyone has good sexual health – and indeed if we are to end new cases of HIV by 2030 – we need robust sexual health services that are appropriately funded and easily accessible.”