Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are spreading rapidly in Europe. According to several reports published Thursday March 7 by the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), reports of bacterial chlamydia infections – or chlamydiases – increased by 16% between 2021 and 2022, while the increase reached 48% for gonorrhea and 34% for syphilis. These three STIs caused respectively 216,000, 70,000 and 35,000 confirmed cases in 2022. If Covid-19 had marked a halt in detection, pre-pandemic levels are now largely exceeded.
The ECDC mentions a “disturbing wave” and one “urgent need to increase awareness”. The agency’s director, Andrea Ammon, called in a press release has “prioritize sexual health education, expand access to screening and treatment, and combat stigma” contaminated people. According to her, “Promoting consistent condom use and encouraging open dialogue about STIs can help reduce transmission rates.”
The ECDC points out that we know how to treat chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis, and that if left untreated they can lead to “serious complications”, such as pelvic inflammation or chronic pain. Chlamydia and gonorrhea can also cause infertility. Syphilis can cause neurological and cardiovascular disorders, as well as “serious adverse effects” on children, in the event of infection of the pregnant woman.
It is difficult to compare countries, as the ECDC does not have all the figures for each of the thirty nations within its scope (the 27 of the European Union, plus Liechtenstein, Iceland and the Norway). In particular, the data are absent for Austria and very fragmented for Germany.
Men more affected by gonorrhea and syphilis
Among the countries for which a prevalence rate could be calculated, the two nations most affected by chlamydia are Denmark and Norway, with respectively 709 and 539 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. The prevalence of gonorrhea is high, especially in Ireland and Luxembourg (75 and 74 cases per 100,000 inhabitants). Concerning syphilis, Malta (24 cases per 100,000) and Luxembourg (23) are primarily concerned. In absolute terms, the highest number of cases of chlamydia infections was recorded in Denmark (42,000). The record is found in Spain for gonorrhea (23,000 cases) and in Germany for syphilis (8,000).
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