Spotlight on sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the South East
Written by AlisonFreemantle on Thursday 26th May 2022
Support for healthcare professionals understanding of STIs in the South East region and where to signpost to in Portsmouth, Southampton, Hampshire and Isle of Wight
STI rates in the South East are higher than the England average in the following local authorities: Portsmouth (949 per 100,000) and Southampton (906).
Access to sexual health services was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic like many other NHS services and STI testing (excluding chlamydia in under 25 year olds) fell markedly in the South East between 2019 and 2020 by 27%.
The impact of STIs remains greatest for young people aged 15 to 24 years, gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (MSM) and black ethnic minorities. More information on South East data can be found here STIs Spotlight Paper provided by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).
Despite the fall in new STIs in 2020 compared to 2019, the number of gonorrhoea cases reported in 2020 were much higher than in 2016 (56% increase).
Main message from the local Sexual Health Service is that it is important to continue to promote the following messages especially when supplying or selling EHC:
- Using condoms consistently and correctly protects against HIV, other STIs such as chlamydia, gonorrhoea and syphilis, and unplanned pregnancy.
Patients can access Information on how to correctly use condoms and how to access them for FREE at www.letstalkaboutit.nhs.uk. Condoms are available via post (with no upper age cap) or the local condom distribution scheme some pharmacies provide (Get It On for under 25s).
- People at risk of HIV can also protect themselves by using HIV Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), which is available from sexual health services
See PrEP - Let's Talk about It (letstalkaboutit.nhs.uk) for more information and how to access PrEP locally for Free through the NHS.
- Vaccination against HPV (for eligible MSM and those eligible as school-aged adolescents), hepatitis A and hepatitis B (for MSM and others with greater sexual health needs) will protect against disease caused by these viruses and prevent spread of these infections
Vaccinations can be accessed for FREE as clinically appropriate via the sexual health service.
Let’s talk about it, the local sexual health service, offers free HIV and STI testing, condoms, PrEP, vaccinations, and contraception advice, all accessed via their website: www.letstalkaboutit.nhs.uk
Further advice on HIV and STIs, including how to access sexual and reproductive health services, is available through Sexwise and the national sexual health helpline on 0300 123 7123 (9am to 8pm Monday to Friday, 11am to 4pm Saturday to Sunday).
