Young people (under 25 years) and men who have sex with men are at high risk of catching or even already having, if sexually active, a sexually transmitted infection (STI). Public Health England (PHE) has stated that new STI diagnoses have increased by 5% from 2011. This is also due to better procedures relating to the collection of data.

The data shows that too many people still put themselves (and also their future partners) at risk of catching an STI. Furthermore, because of the asymptomatic nature of many STIs, many individuals who currently might have an infection in their system, might not yet know they are carrying an STI.

The most common STIs remain chlamydia and gonorrhoea, the former accounting for 46% of diagnoses. STIs, including chlamydia and gonorrhoea, spread and multiply, just like any other infections. Eventually, if left untreated, they can cause severe problems to the reproductive system, including infertility. Women are especially affected: however, men can also have further problems.

So how can you protect yourself? If sexually active, there are a few simple precautions that can be taken in order to reduce the risk of catching or spreading an STI. First, it is essential to use condoms. Second, it is highly recommended to take an STI test every year, or every change of partner. The type of test you choose is also important: taking a full screen STI test is the best option when you don’t know what you might have - especially if you are displaying symptoms.

You can have a look at the full report at the Public Health England website.