9:40am Thursday 26th August 2010
By Claire Lomax
Young women continue to be the group most affected by sexually transmitted infections, a report by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) reveals.
In 2009, 42,410 new STI diagnoses were reported to the HPA from sexual health clinics across Yorkshire and from community based chlamydia testing.
While this is a two per cent decrease on the 43,154 cases recorded in 2008, officials say figures are still too high and that some groups are more at risk than others.
In 2009, 76 per cent of gonorrhoea diagnoses and 72 per cent of genital warts diagnoses in Yorkshire were in women under the age of 25. Of chlamydia diagnoses within the region, 91 per cent were in women under 25.
High rates of STI diagnoses have also been found among gay men.
A spokesman for NHS Bradford and Airedale said: “Reducing the risk and spread of sexually transmitted infections and reducing unintended pregnancies is a key priority.
“We are tackling this in a number of ways to raise awareness of both prevention and the wide range of sexual health services available.”
Dr Leena Inamdar, consultant in communicable disease control and lead for sexual health at HPA Yorkshire and the Humber, said: “These latest regional figures show that, in common with the rest of the UK, poor sexual health is a serious problem.
“These figures also highlight the vulnerability of young women. Many studies have shown that the UK’s young adults are more likely to have unsafe sex and often they lack the skills and confidence to negotiate safer sex.
“Re-infection is also a worrying issue – the numbers we are seeing in teenagers are of particular concern as this suggests teenagers are repeatedly putting their own, and others’ long-term health at risk from STIs.
“The safest way to protect yourself against an STI is to use a condom. Sexually active under 25-year-olds should be tested for chlamydia every year or when they change partner.”
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