The telegraph
Why scientists think this year will be the ‘summer of STDs’
After 12 months of dark restrictions, it’s no wonder that many of us were looking forward to a ‘summer of love’ in the 1960s style, with outdoor parties, live music … and a lot of sex. But one of the unfortunate side effects of post-block hedonism is a greater chance of contracting a sexually transmitted infection (STI). Experts are particularly concerned that a more potent strain of gonorrhea could manifest itself this summer. According to the Sexual Health Hub, it is already the second most common STI in the UK, after chlamydia. Although it is more common in the 20 to 24 age group, with a rate of 269.5 per 100,000 inhabitants, it can attack at any time in life. And according to the World Health Organization (WHO), the antibiotic azithromycin – which is commonly used to treat chest and sinus infections and has been used in the past year to prevent “making hospitalized patients” – has developed resistance to the bacteria that causes gonorrhea. The WHO warns that this “supergonorrhea” may be intractable, as the use of antibiotics during the pandemic continues to fuel its mutation. Claudia Estcourt, of the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV (BASHH), says that although the organization has not seen azithromycin still causing cases of supergonorrhea, she recognizes that antimicrobial resistance has been “a concern within STI medicine” for many years , “Particularly for gonorrhea-causing bacteria and Mycoplasma genitalium (M gen).” She adds that, due to the reduced number of people who come for STD testing in the blockade, the numbers for 2020 will show that reported infections have dropped, but are expected to increase again in 2021. “This is largely due to the fact that we haven’t been able to test how much we would like, as well as people’s altered (reduced) sexual behavior. As we get back to normal, we will probably go back to what we saw in 2019 with increases in chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis in some groups, ”she says. In fact, this crisis was taking shape long before the pandemic. Data from the Terrence Higgins Trust and BASHH State of the Nation report revealed that in February last year, cases of gonorrhea increased by 249 percent in the past decade, with cases of syphilis also increasing by 165 percent. Last year, experts say the number of people visiting sexual health clinics has dropped by 85%, meaning that many STD cases may have gone undiagnosed. Since last year, singles have had significant limitations on their sexual freedom. In early March 2020, the government imposed strict rules that couples who did not live together, and were single, could not visit each other’s home for sex. This was repeated later by Deputy Medical Director Jenny Harries, who said that couples who live apart should stay apart or “test the strength of their relationship” and live together. In September, the rules eased slightly to allow people in ‘established relationships’ to meet to have sex. But even now that the restriction has been lifted, caution is still advised for singles. “We know from research that in the past year the number of people who have had sex with new sexual partners has decreased a lot compared to what we would expect in normal times. I am sure that many people will make a point of resuming dating and sex with new partners once the restrictions have eased, regardless of whether they have been vaccinated or not ”, says Estcourt. This greater sense of sexual freedom can be intensified by the development of the vaccine or by people who believe they have immunity because they have already contracted the virus. But while your chances of getting the coronavirus (hopefully) will decrease over time, your chances of getting an STI will not decrease. So, how can we be safe? Condoms are the answer: they are 98 percent effective in protecting against most STIs, such as chlamydia and gonorrhea. “It is very important to think about protecting yourself from STDs, including HIV, and also from Covid, and remember that condom use will greatly reduce the risk of sexually transmitted infections,” said Estcourt. “Always check to see if you develop any symptoms that might suggest an STD, such as genital or anal discharge, rash or blemishes, and contact your local sexual health service for advice on how to get a checkup.” STD testing is available during the blockade, but, as with many medical services in the pandemic, the format has changed slightly. Many services first offer a phone call or online consultation to discuss symptoms and appropriate options before scheduling a personal clinic visit, if necessary. Alternatively, you can order postal STD tests to check for chlamydia and gonorrhea, although companies are warning that they may be late due to delays in the postal service.