THE worst areas for each STI have been revealed in a map of England’s sexual disease hotspots.
Instances of both gonorrhoea and syphilis have skyrocketed, while demand for sexual health services is surging.
Lastest figures suggest cases of ‘the clap’ are at a record high with 82,592 in England in 2022, compared to around 55,0000 in 2021 and 31,000 in 2013.
And syphilis infections were at their highest level in 75 years in 2022 – with 8,700 cases recorded in England, the shocking NHS data revealed.
The same data showed chlamydia was also on the rise, with a 24 per cent more cases recorded in 2022 than in the year before.
Analysis by Supplement Place shows which areas come out top for every sexually transmitted infection (STI), with the most diagnoses per population size
It reveals which Birts are most sloppy when it comes to protection during sex, with condoms the main way to prevent STIs.
If you’re worried you’ve got an STI from bedroom antics, go for a free check-up at a sexual health clinic as soon as you can.
Chlamydia
Symptoms:
Pain when peeing
Unusual discharge from the vagina, penis or bottom
In women, pain in the tummy, bleeding after sex and bleeding between periods
In men, pain and swelling in the testicles
Chlamydia is by far the most common STI in England, accounting for just over half of all infections with more than 199,000 diagnoses.
Lincoln, in the West Midlands, is the where you were most likley to catch the disease in 2022, with 1,608 in every 100,00 people carrying it.
If left untreated, chlamydia can permanent damage to a woman’s reproductive system, making it impossible to get pregant later on.
Gonorrhoea
Symptoms:
Thick green or yellow discharge from the vagina or penis
pain when peeing
bleeding between periods.
But around one in 10 infected men and almost half of infected women do not experience any symptoms.
After chlamydia, gonorrhoea is Britain’s most common STI, with 82,592 cases recorded in 2022.
Lambeth, in London, is England’s gonorrhoea capital, with 3,875 people diganosed with the bug, a rate of of 1,220 per 100,000.
The highest rate of diagnoses outside of the big smoke was found in Liverpool, where there were 1,608 diagnosis per 100,000 people.
If treated early with antibiotics, gonorrhoea is unlikely to lead to any complications or long-term problems.
But if left untreated, it can – much like chlamydia – lead to fertility issues.
Mycoplasma genitalium
Symptoms:
Pain when peeing
Unusual vaginal discharge
Pain in the tummy or pelvis
Pain during sex
Bleeding after sex
Painful bleeding between periods
Discomfort or discharge from your bum – if you have had anal sex
Mycoplasma genitalium (MG) is a little know STI with similar syptoms to chlamydia.
Just 7,000 people were diganosed in 2022, making it much rarer than most of the diseases on this list.
Despite being quite uncommon, MGS is resistant to lots of medicines, making it much harder to treat.
It can also lead to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) in women and, ultimately, infertility.
Hammersmith and Fulham, in London, takes the top spot for cases in the country, with 90.02 diagnoses per 100,000 people
Liverpool saw the highest rate of mycoplasma genitalium diagnoses outside London, with a rate of 53.
Trichomoniasis
Symptoms in women:
Abnormal vaginal discharge that may be thick, thin or frothy and yellow-green in colour
Producing more discharge than normal, which may also have an unpleasant fishy smell
Soreness, swelling and itching around the vagina – sometimes the inner thighs also become itchy
Pain or discomfort when passing urine or having sex
Symptoms in men:
Pain when peeing or during ejaculation
Needing to pee more frequently than usual
Thin, white discharge from the penis
Soreness, swelling and redness around the head of the penis or foreskin
Trichomoniasis is more common than the well-known STI gonorrhoea, yet, barely anyone knows about it.
It’s not even always included in standard STI “check ups” at sexual health clinics or at-home kits.
Croydon, a large town in south London was the trichomoniasis epicenter in 2022, with 109.09 people carrying the bug per 100,000 people.
Sandwell, which sits closely next to Birmingham, won the same label among areas outside of London, with a rate of 80.
Complications of trichomoniasis are rare, although some women with the infection may be at an increased risk of further problems.
If you’re infected with trichomoniasis while you’re pregnant, the infection may cause your baby to be born prematurely or have a low birthweight.
Genital herpes
Symptoms:
Blisters or ulcers on the one or several of the following places: thighs, buttocks, vagina, vulva, penis, scrotum and anus
Most cases of genital herpes are caused by Herpes 2 (HSV-2), while HSV-1 causes cold sores and genital herpes.
Both types of herpes can go through periods of being dormant, during which time they can still be spread, before causing a recurrence.
It can’t be cured, but medication can stop the symptoms of an outbreak from worsening.
Some 24,910 new cases were reported in 2022.
Southwark, in London, stole the top spot at the town most riddled with the disease – with 149 people diagnosed per 100,000.
Exeter is the region outside of London with the most cases of herpes with 88 people diagnosed per 100,000.
Genital herpes can’t be cured, but symtposm can be managed with antivial medication.
The disease can be transferred to other parts of the body like the eyes.
And it can be very fatal to babies, who can catch it during childbirth.
HIV
Symptoms:
Raised temperature (fever)
Sore throat
Body rash
Tiredness
Joint pain
Muscle pain
Swollen glands
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a virus that, left untreated, can weaken the immune system.
There is no cure, but people can take medicaition to manage the disease which means they can live a long and healthy life.
There are more than 100,000 people living with the disease in the UK – while an estimated 35 million people HIV positive worldwide.
HIV was the least common STI diagnosed in 2022 – with just 3,805 noew cases recorded.
The city of Westminster saw the most new cases in the country, with a rate of 53 in every 100,000.
Cambridge saw the highest rates outside London, with 20 new cases recorded per 100,000 people.
Genital warts
Symptoms:
Small, rough lumps that can appear around the vagina, penis or anus
Most people know what genital warts are. And if you don’t, the name gives it away.
The small growths emerge when someone has been exposed to a virus called human papilloma virus (HPV).
Certain strains of the disease have been linked to genital, cervical, head, neck, throat and mouth cancer.
Some 24,910 people were diagnosed with the disease in 2022.
Yet again, Hammersmith and Fulham won top spot, with figures showing 151 new cases per 100,000 residents.
The seaside towns of Brighton and Hove stole the show when looking at places beyond London, with a rate of 82.
Syphillis
Symptoms:
Small sores penis, vagina, or bottom, mouth lips, hands or bottom
A rash on the palms of hands and soles of feet
White patches in mouth
Flu-like symptoms, such as a high temperature, headaches and tiredness
Swollen glands
Patchy hair loss on your head, beard and eyebrows
Syphillis is an STI often confirned to the history books, but cases of the nasty disease are rising.
Data shows 8,962 diagnoses of the disease were reported across the country.
Lameth in London takes the national top spot for syphilis diagnoses, with 143 diagnoses recorded per 100,000 people in 2022.
Cropping up again, Brighton and Hove win first place outside of London, having reported a rate of 53.
Without treatment, a an infection can last for years or decades without causing any symptoms.
The danger is it spreading to other parts of the body, such as the brain.
This can lead to vision problems, meningitis and strokes.
How to avoid STIS
IN general, sexually transmitted infections are highly preventable.
The only method guaranteed to prevent STIs is to avoid any kind of sexual contact, but this method proabbly won’t appeal to everyone!
There are things you can do to limit the risk of exposure to infections while still enjoying an active sex life.
The best way to avoid most STIs is to use a condom when you have sex. There are some other things you can do to reduce the chances, they are:
Limiting the number of people you have sex with
Talking honestly with potential partners about your sexual history
Getting tested, along with your partner, before having sex
Avoiding sex when under the influence of alcohol or drugs. People who are drunk or using drugs often fail to have safe sex
Where appropriate, getting vaccinated against HPV and hepatitis B