STI that can show no symptoms hits record high

Alarming numbers in the UK

The alarming thing about it? It can have no symptoms.

The statement issued by the Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) confirmed that two health conditions reached the highest levels in 2024.

While it can have very bad symptoms for some patients, of the conditions can also sometimes not have any symptoms at all in others.

One thing to do if you are active sexually

If you are sexually active with multiple new partners, this only reinforces the importance of making sure that you are getting tested regularly, as the lack of symptoms can make it difficult to spot.

The head of ECDC's Directly Transmitted and Vaccine-Preventable Diseases unit, Bruno Ciancio, warned that some patients may have some very serious symptoms indeed, even if others may not experience any symptoms.

Gonorrhea is a condition which risen dramatically, which in the ECDC's entire area hit 106,331 confirmed cases, representing a whopping 303 percent rise since 2015.

Syphilis, meanwhile, had 45,557 cases in the same area, meaning that it has more than doubled over the same period.

“These infections can cause severe complications, such as chronic pain and infertility and, in the case of syphilis, problems with the heart or nervous system”, Ciancio warned as he spoke to the BBC.

He added that there had also been an increase in congenital cases of syphilis, where the condition is passed on to a newborn baby.

This can then cause “potentially lifelong complications”, he revealed.

“Protecting your sexual health remains straightforward”, he said.

“Use condoms with new or multiple partners, and get tested if you have symptoms.”

In the UK, there has been a high number of gonorrhoea cases.

According to the UK Health Security Agency, there were 71,802 cases confirmed in England in 2024.

There were some 85,000 cases of gonorrhoea in Britain in 2023, and since that time a vaccine has been rolled out for the condition.

Gonorrhea signs and symptoms – here’s how you can find out

While the condition can sometimes have no symptoms, it can also cause inflammation and discharge from the genitals.

Those who are infected might also experience a burning pain when they urinate, as well as pain the lower abdomen and sore testicles.

Other symptoms can also appear in parts of the body which have been in contact with infected semen or vaginal fluid.

These can include itching, pain, and discharge from the anus, sore throat, as well as pain, discharge, and redness in the eyes.

According to advice from the NHS, barrier methods such as condoms and dental dams are effective in preventing the spread of the infection.

The NHS also advises people to get vaccinated if offered, and if infected it can be treated with a course of antibiotics.