STI Tests On the Rise: Gonorrhea Diagnoses Increase by 33% in 2022, According to RIVM Study; Soa Aids Nederland Calls for Return of Condom Awareness Campaigns to Combat Increase in STIs Among Young People in Netherlands.

2023-04-22 19:20:05

GGDs conducted more STI tests last year. The National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) saw more consultations for the first time in 2022 than in 2019, the year before the corona pandemic.

In addition, more STIs were found, especially among young people.

The number of gonorrhea cases certainly rose sharply: last year there were 33 percent more diagnoses than in 2021. The largest increase was seen among women and heterosexual men, an increase of 75 and 58 percent respectively. In total, 10,600 cases of gonorrhea were diagnosed last year, but the vast majority were still found in men.

The RIVM notes that gonorrhea was diagnosed relatively more often in the last quarter of 2022 in highly educated people, people under the age of 25 and people of Dutch descent.

Furthermore, chlamydia is still found more often than gonorrhea. A test showed that they had chlamydia in 21.2 percent of heterosexual men, the same was true for 17.9 percent of women. Before the corona pandemic, chlamydia was found in a test in 18.4 percent of men and 15.3 percent of women. Once again, RIVM finds it striking that this increase was mainly seen among people under the age of 25. Gonorrhea has a finding rate of 2.3 percent in women and 2.4 in straight men.

Soa Aids Nederland is not surprised by the rise in the number of STIs. According to the foundation, it is caused by the lack of information about STDs and their prevention in the Netherlands. “Our own research among young people shows that 4 out of 10 young people do not use a condom during a one-night stand,” emphasizes Soa Aids Nederland. Figures from the RIVM also previously showed that young people use a condom less often.

The foundation wants the Vrij Veilig campaigns to return, which stopped more than ten years ago. “In this, young people were made aware of the use of a condom,” explains a spokeswoman. “After years of the absence of these campaigns, you notice that young people are no longer aware of how to protect themselves.”

RIVM does not provide any explanation for the increase in the number of STIs.

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