STIs have always been a part of human history, but in the last few decades antibiotics have made it possible for doctors to treat most STIs. However, it seems that some sexually transmitted infections are making a comeback, and this is due to antibiotic resistance.
A Rise in Gonorrhoea
One STI that seems to be coming back with a vengeance is gonorrhoea. Last year over 40,000 people in the UK were diagnosed with gonorrhoea, and many doctors think that this number will continue to rise. This is due to two things: people not using protection and a rise in strains of antibiotic-resistant gonorrhoea.
However, there is hope on the horizon. Doctors in New Zealand have managed to treat some cases of gonorrhoea with a new type of vaccine. Interestingly, this vaccine has been around for a few years, as it is used to treat a strain of meningococcal bacterium that presents as meningitis.
Sadly, this treatment isn’t an immunisation, as there isn’t currently an immunisation against gonorrhoea. However, it will provide partial protection from the infection in the future.
If you are worried that you have caught an STI and you don’t want to go to your local clinic, don’t worry. It is possible to order Chlamydia testing kits Bexley so that you can test yourself in the privacy of your own home – just visit bexleysexualhealth.org/home_sti_kits to find out more.
Staying Protected
With STIs on the rise it is very important for people to make sure that they are protected. This can be done by using condoms whenever you sleep with someone new – but it is also important to get tested regularly if you are sleeping with multiple partners (especially if you do not know if your partners are STI-free or not). This is because it is possible for condoms to be damaged during sex, and some STIs don’t have any symptoms, so you could have the STI for months without realising.
This is especially important when it comes to infections like antibiotic-resistant gonorrhoea, as it may be impossible to treat the disease. So make sure you stay safe whenever you have sex – and if you do have sex without a condom, make sure that you get tested to make sure you are STI-free.
