Four Common STIs to get tested for that are curable

According to the World Health Organization more than 1 million sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are acquired every day globally, the majority of which are asymptomatic. Each year there are an estimated 374 million new infections with 1 of 4 STIs: chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis and trichomoniasis. All these infections are currently curable.

Statistics for these 4 STIs

Chlamydia is a bacterial infection usually spread through sex or contact with infected genital fluids (semen or vaginal fluid). Approximately 75% of women and 50% of men will have no symptoms and it was the most commonly diagnosed STI in the UK. In 2019, there were over 229,000 new cases in England. Chlamydia is particularly prevalent amongst sexually active teenagers and young adults, but anyone can be at risk.

Gonorrhoea is the second most common bacterial STI in the UK after Chlamydia. In 2019, more than 70,000 people were diagnosed with gonorrhoea in England, with most cases affecting gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men. Gonorrhoea is an STI caused by infection with the Neisseria gonorrhoeae bacterium. It is one of the fastest growing STIs in the world and usually causes no symptoms at first.

Syphilis is an STI that can cause serious health problems if not treated. It is caused by a bacteria called Treponema pallidum. It is divided into different stages (primary, secondary, latent, and tertiary). There are different signs and symptoms associated with each stage. New diagnoses of Syphilis have increased by 199% in the UK over the last ten years, with a steep rise from 2,646 new diagnoses in 2010 to 7,900 in 2019.

Trichomonas is caused by infection with a protozoan parasite called Trichomonas vaginalis. Although symptoms of the disease vary, approximately half the people who have the parasite cannot tell they are infected. It is the most common non-viral STI in the world. Though it is less common in the UK, it is thought that many cases are still not recognised and not diagnosed.

Effective treatment is currently available for these 4 STIs. The three bacterial STIs (Chlamydia, Gonorrhoea and Syphilis) and one parasitic STI (trichomonas) are generally curable with antibiotics.

Choose from a wide range of STI tests and screens with Better2Know

Better2Know offers a range of STI and HIV tests and STI screens. You can take an individual Chlamydia, Gonorrhoea, Syphilis and Trichomonas test. Many STIs show no symptoms so we recommend you take one of our screens such as our Peace of Mind Screen which tests for Chlamydia, Gonorrhoea and Syphilis. You can add on other STIs to this screen such as Trichomonas.

All the STIs we have mentioned can cause serious long term health problems, so it is advisable to reduce your risk and take care of your overall sexual health. Better2Know is the global leader in sexual health testing services.

You can talk with a highly trained personal advisor confidentially today via phone or live chat to see which tests, comprehensive screens and vaccinations would be recommended for you. Our friendly and knowledgeable team is here to assist you 24 hours a day, seven days a week to give you peace of mind about your health. We can arrange confidential testing at a clinic near you, with a private nurse visit, or you can order a convenient home test kit.

Sources

[1] World Health Organization: Sexually transmitted infections

[2] Nature.com: Syphilis up