Sexually Transmitted Infections On The Rise In UK

A report from the Health Protection Agency on the spread of diseases paints an ever worsening picture of the nation's sexual health. There was a two per cent rise in the number of new cases of all STIs diagnosed at clinics between 2005 and 2006, figures showed. Genital herpes was a particular cause for concern, with a nine per cent increase between 2005 and 2006. Among teenage girls aged between 16 and 19, there was a 16 per cent rise in cases genital herpes, which cannot be cured but is treatable. Genital warts in this female age group also increased five per cent, but gonorrhoea fell three per cent and chlamydia was down one per cent. Earlier this week, a study was published suggesting that delays in the treatment of people with STIs could be blamed for facilitating the spread of disease. Of four clinics surveyed, more than 3,000 patients with symptoms were typically having to wait a week before receiving any treatment. During that time 44.8 per cent of men and 58 per cent of women continued to have sex, seven per cent of patients had sex with more than one partner, and 4.2 per cent had unprotected sex with a new partner.