Increase in STI tests at sexual health centers

by time news


Of those who got tested, 1 in 5 had an STD

In 2021, more than 138,000 people had an STI Sexually Transmitted Diseases test performed at a Sexual Health Center (CSGCentrum Sexual Health). This is 30 percent more than in 2020. But the number is still 8 percent lower than in 2019, the year before corona. Of those who got tested, 1 in 5 had an STD. That was less than in 2020, but more than in 2019. This is apparent from the annual STI report of the RIVM.

At the CSGC Center for Sexual Health, people with a higher risk of STDs can be tested for free.
Since August 2019, CSGs also provide care to participants of a national PrEPpre-exposure prophylaxis pilot. PrEP is a drug that prevents HIV human immunodeficiency virus infection. Participants of the pilot receive PrEP and are tested for STDs every three months. The participants are almost all men who have sex with men (MSM men who have sex with men).

Chlamydia
Chlamydia has been the most common STI for years, especially among young people. More than 20,000 chlamydia diagnoses have been identified by 2021. That is almost the same as in 2019. Of the total number of visits among women, 16.2 percent were diagnosed with chlamydia. This was 21.3 percent among heterosexual men and 12.2 percent among MSM. Those percentages are lower than in 2020, but higher than in 2019. Among MSM in the PrEP pilot, the percentage of chlamydia diagnoses decreased from 11.7 percent in 2019 to 10 percent in 2021.

Gonorrhea
In 2021, the CSGs diagnosed gonorrhea nearly 8,000 times. That is comparable to 2019. This STI mainly occurs in MSM. The percentage of positive gonorrhea tests among MSM was 12.4 percent. That is an increase compared to 2019. Then it was still 11.6 percent. Among MSM in the PrEP pilot, the percentage of gonorrhea diagnoses decreased from 10.7 in 2019 to 9.2 in 2021.

Syphilis
In the past year, almost 1,400 cases of syphilis were diagnosed, slightly less than in 2019. In almost all cases, MSM is involved. The percentage of positive syphilis tests among MSM was 2.6 percent. This is comparable to 2019. Among MSM in the PrEP pilot, the percentage of syphilis diagnoses decreased slightly from 2.2 percent in 2019 to 1.7 percent in 2021.

HIV Human Immunodeficiency Virus
In 2021, 128 CSG visitors were told that they have HIV. That is 5 more than in 2020. Among them were 110 MSM. In 2021, 794 people with HIV came to an HIV treatment center for the first time. That was 18 percent less than in 2019.

PrEP-pilot
Since the start of the PrEP pilot in 2019, a total of almost 9,800 people have had their first PrEP consultation. Of them, 3,450 had the first consultation in 2021.

Rapport: Sexually transmitted infections in the Netherlands in 2021


Additional information …

Consult the source and/or provider for more information about this message. News may change, include errors or inaccuracies. Also read our disclaimer and please report messages, reactions and/or images that go against our conditions.

Click on the tags below for relevant posts, if any…

Name author and/or edited by:
RIVM
Photographer or photo agency: :
INGImages
Source for this article: :
RIVM
What is the URL for this resource?:
https://www.rivm.nl/nieuws/aantal-soa-tests-bij-centra-seksuele-gezondheid-neemt-weer-toe
Original title:
Number of STI tests at sexual health centers is increasing again
Target audience:
Healthcare Professionals, Policymakers, Informal Caregivers, Students
Datum:
2022-06-24

Articles with similar tags …

You may also like

Leave a Comment