STIs fall with syphilis among gay and bisexual men lowest in a decade
While this decline is a cause for optimism, syphilis diagnoses in heterosexual women increased.
New data published today by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) shows a fall in sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in England, with overall diagnoses down 8.3% — a positive sign that system-wide efforts to tackle STIs are making a real difference.
Among the most encouraging findings, syphilis diagnoses in gay and bisexual men have fallen to their lowest level since 2016 — an 18.7% decline from 6,349 in 2024 to 5,164 in 2025.
Today’s data also shows:
- a 13.5% decrease in infectious syphilis diagnoses in all groups — from 9,553 in 2024 to 8,262 in 2025
- a 10.9% decrease in gonorrhoea cases in all groups — from 71,766 in 2024 to 63,943 in 2025
- a 7.3% decrease in first episode genital warts in all groups — from 25,106 in 2024 to 23,282 in 2025
While these decreasing trends are cause for optimism, STI cases remain high and these infections continue to particularly affect young people aged 15 to 24 years, gay and bisexual men and people living in deprived areas.
While infectious syphilis diagnoses fell overall, diagnoses in heterosexual women increased 4.8% — from 838 cases in 2024 to 878 in 2025.
Among young women aged 15 to 24, who are recommended to be screened through the National Chlamydia Screening Programme, there was a 9.4% decrease in the number of chlamydia tests carried out, from 604,143 in 2024 to 547,308 in 2025, and a 13.6% decrease in chlamydia diagnoses, from 53,408 in 2024 to 46,122 in 2025.
Dr Hamish Mohammed, Consultant Epidemiologist at UKHSA, said:
It is really encouraging to see STI diagnoses falling, and the drop in syphilis among gay and bisexual men to the lowest level since 2016 is a positive development that reflects the hard work of sexual health services and community-based organisations.
But cases of STIs remain high, especially in young people and gay and bisexual men. We all need to work together to further reduce these infections because they can cause serious harm. If you have not used condoms with new or casual partners, please get tested for STIs and HIV — even if you have no symptoms. Testing protects both you and your partners.
The decline in chlamydia screening is a concern. Chlamydia can cause pelvic inflammatory disease and infertility if left untreated, so sexually active young women are encouraged to test for chlamydia after sex with a new partner or annually.
Although most bacterial STIs are easily treated with antibiotics, many can cause serious health problems if left untreated. Chlamydia and gonorrhoea can cause infertility and pelvic inflammatory disease, while syphilis can cause serious, irreversible and potentially life-threatening problems affecting the brain, heart or nerves. During pregnancy, syphilis can be passed to the unborn baby, leading to congenital syphilis — a serious condition that can result in miscarriage, stillbirth or lifelong health complications.
Common STI symptoms include:
- an unusual discharge from the vagina, penis or anus
- pain when peeing
- sores around the genitals or anus
However, many people have no symptoms at all, which means STIs can be passed on without anyone realising it. UKHSA is reminding everyone having sex with new or casual partners to use a condom and get tested regularly, whatever their age, gender or sexual orientation.
STI testing is free and confidential and can be accessed through local sexual health clinics, university and college medical centres, or through self-sampling kits sent discreetly by post. Testing is recommended if you have had sex without a condom with a new or casual partner in the last 3 months, or if a partner has tested positive for an STI.
In addition:
- women and other people with a womb aged under 25 who are sexually active should have a chlamydia test after sex with a new partner, or annually
- gay and bisexual men with new or casual partners should test for HIV and STIs annually, or every 3 months if having sex without condoms with new or casual partners
Sexual health services began offering doxyPEP in summer 2025. DoxyPEP is a course of the antibiotic doxycycline taken after sex, which can significantly reduce the risk of bacterial STIs including syphilis. It is offered to people at increased risk of syphilis, including some gay and bisexual men.
The NHS has rolled out the world’s first national vaccination programme to protect against gonorrhoea, based on advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). There is evidence that the 4CMenB vaccine may offer 30% to 40% protection against gonorrhoea. Those eligible include gay and bisexual men with a recent history of multiple sexual partners or a bacterial STI.
It is still early days for both doxyPEP and the 4CMenB for gonorrhoea vaccination programme, and UKHSA is evaluating their impact. Some of the decline in STI diagnoses seen among gay and bisexual men in 2025 may already reflect the impact of these interventions.