Currently, each year, there are over 160,000 cases of the bacterial disease chlamydia recorded in the U.K. This figure is more than three times the proportion of any other diagnosed sexually transmitted infection (STI). With this in mind, new research has further revealed which STIs are proving the most common in the U.K.
Health experts at FROM MARS have analysed data to reveal the areas in England with the highest and lowest number of STI cases, the most common infections, and where the most infections are usually recorded.
The most common STIs in England are:
| Rank | STI | England Count |
| 1 | Chlamydia | 161,672 |
| 2 | Gonorrhoea | 57,084 |
| 3 | Genital Warts | 27,473 |
| 4 | Genital Herpes | 20,530 |
| 5 | Syphilis | 6,926 |
In terms of geographical differences, the research reveals that Lambeth has the highest number of confirmed chlamydia cases in the country. The research revealed that there are 1,171 cases per 100,000 people, whilst mid-Sussex has the lowest number of cases.
The common symptoms of the bacterial infection are:
- pain when urinating.
- unusual vaginal discharge.
- pain in the tummy or pelvis.
- pain during sex.
- bleeding after sex.
- bleeding between periods.
Proving further regional differences, of the least likely destinations to get an STI in the UK, Ryedale has the lowest number of gonorrhoea cases in the country with 5 cases per 100,000 people. In contrast, Craven (a local government district of North Yorkshire) has no recorded syphilis cases.
Taking a different condition, the London borough of Hammersmith and Fulham has the highest number of genital warts (caused by a virus called Human Papilloma Virus (or HPV)) cases in the country at 160.20 per 100,000 people. In contrast, Sheffield has the lowest.
In terms of the area of highest risk, and returning to the aforementioned chlamydia case count, Lambeth has been named the riskiest place for a person to have unprotected casual sexual intercourse, scoring an STI score of 9.99/10.
In terms of the area with the lowest case count, Craven has been named the ‘least riskiest’ place with a score of 0.29/10.
However cut, the data suggests an urgent need for health promotion and campaigns designed to support ‘safe sex’ practices.
