Research and analysis

Spotlight on sexually transmitted infections in the East of England: 2022 data

Updated 28 March 2024

Applies to England

Summary

While this report primarily focuses on the trend between 2021 and 2022, some trends relative to 2019 or earlier are included to provide a comparison to sexual health service provision and sexually transmitted infection (STI) diagnoses prior to the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic. For England, the numbers of consultations, sexual health screens and STI diagnoses in 2020 and 2021 are lower than preceding years and any trends in diagnoses between 2021 and 2022 must be interpreted in that context.

STIs represent an important public health problem in the East of England. Out of all the UK Health Security Agency’s (UKHSA) regions it has the lowest rate of new STIs in England.

New STI diagnoses

29,537 new STIs were diagnosed in East of England residents in 2022, representing a rate of 445 diagnoses per 100,000 population. Rates by upper tier local authority ranged from 355 new STI diagnoses per 100,000 population in Central Bedfordshire to 630 new STI diagnoses per 100,000 population in Luton.

The number of new STIs diagnosed in East of England residents increased by 15% between 2021 and 2022.

Rises were seen in the numbers of most of the 5 major STIs:

• syphilis increased by 18%

• gonorrhoea by 58%

• chlamydia by 9%

• genital herpes by 20%

Genital warts decreased by 7%.

UKHSA recommends that local areas should be working towards achieving a chlamydia detection rate no lower than 2,300 per 100,000 among individuals aged 15 to 24 years and this is an indicator in the Public Health Outcomes Framework (PHOF). In 2022, the chlamydia diagnosis rate among East of England residents aged 15 to 24 years was 1,236 per 100,000 residents. Rates of new STIs vary somewhat between men and women (418 and 390 per 100,000 residents, respectively).

Populations with greater sexual health needs

Gay, bisexual and other sex who have sex with men

Where gender and sexual orientation are known, gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) account for 22% of East of England residents diagnosed with a new STI excluding chlamydia diagnoses reported via Chlamydia Testing Activity Dataset (CTAD) (70% of those diagnosed with syphilis and 44% of those diagnosed with gonorrhoea).

Young people

STIs disproportionately affect young people. East of England residents aged between 15 and 24 years accounted for 46% of all new STI diagnoses in 2022. A steep decline (91% decrease) has been seen between 2018 and 2022 in genital warts diagnosis rates in females aged 15 to 19. This follows the introduction in 2008 of vaccination against Human papillomavirus (HPV), the virus which causes genital warts, for females (1).

Black Caribbean ethnic group

The white ethnic group has the highest number of new STI diagnoses: 21,651 (79%). Although only 3% of new STIs are in black Caribbeans, they have the highest rate: 1,542 per 100,000, which is 4 times the rate seen in the white ethnic group. Where country of birth was known, 79% of East of England residents diagnosed with a new STI in 2022 (excluding chlamydia diagnoses reported via CTAD) were UK-born.

Conclusion

This report mainly focuses on the trend between 2021 and 2022. However, trends from 2018 onwards are included to provide a comparison to sexual health service provision and diagnoses prior to the (COVID-19) pandemic and disruption to service provision in 2020 and 2021. Numbers of consultations and STI diagnoses in 2020 and 2021 are lower than in preceding years, so the trend in diagnoses between 2021 and 2022 must be interpreted in that context. 

The number of consultations (all types) at sexual health services (SHSs) in 2022 was 34% higher than in 2021 (409,657 vs. 305,692). Of all consultations in 2022, 46% (190,288) were delivered online, 37% (151,634) face to face and 17% (67,735) via telephone. The greatest increase by type of consultation was for online consultations which rose by 73%. The number of online consultations may be underreported where physical SHSs provide both face-to-face and online consultations.

Diagnoses rates in the East of England were the lowest out of the 9 UKHSA regions. London had the highest rate at 1,397.3 per 100,000. However, diagnoses rates should be interpreted alongside data on STI testing and positivity rates. For the East of England these are consistently below the England rate. 

The most diagnosed STIs in the East of England in 2022 were chlamydia, gonorrhoea, first episode genital warts and first episode genital herpes. The greatest increase was in the number of gonorrhoea diagnoses (increase of 58%, from 2,851 to 4,494). In line with the increasing trend over the past decade, diagnoses of both gonorrhoea and syphilis exceeded the high levels reported in 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic. Nationally, the number of gonorrhoea diagnoses in 2022 was the largest annual number reported since records began, while the number of syphilis diagnoses was the largest annual number reported since 1948 (2).

A notable increase was also seen in diagnoses of chlamydia (9%). Since June 2021, the primary aim of the National Chlamydia Screening Programme (NCSP) changed to focus on reducing reproductive harm of untreated infection in young women (3). The chlamydia detection rate is a PHOF indicator and UKHSA recommends that local authorities should be working towards the revised female only minimum detection rate of 3,250 per 100,000 women aged 15 to 24 years. In 2022, no local authorities in the East of England met this rate. The highest was in Milton Keynes with a rate of 2,260 per 100,000.

STIs continue to show geographic and socioeconomic variation and disproportionately impact young people aged 15 to 24 years, gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) and those of black ethnicity.

For both males and females, those aged 20 to 24 years had the highest rate of new STIs per 100,000 in the East of England. For females, this is followed by those aged 15 to 19 years whereas for males, the group with the next highest rate is those aged 25 to 24 years. 

Diagnoses of STIs have increased in GBMSM between 2018 and 2022 in the East of England reflecting national trends (4). The greatest increases were seen in gonorrhoea (52%) and genital herpes (51%). There is evidence of a rebound in sexual mixing among GBMSM between 2020 and 2021, and this is likely to have contributed to the rise in STIs within this population in 2022 (5).

There have also been increases among GBMSM in less frequently reported STIs such as lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) (82.8%, 570 in 2021 to 1,042 in 2022) (6), as well as an increase in cases of shigellosis and recent outbreaks in 2022 of extensively drug-resistant Shigella sonnei and S. flexneri (7).

There was a total of 692 diagnoses in those of black Caribbean ethnicity and 1,625 in those of black African ethnicity in 2022 (3% and 6% of the total number of all new STI diagnoses respectively). However, individuals in the black Caribbean ethnic group had the highest diagnoses rates of all ethnic groups in 2022 (1,542.4 per 100,000) followed by the black African ethnic group (1,158.8 per 100,000).

UKHSA’s main messages

Commissioners and providers of SHSs have an important role in communicating messages about safer sexual behaviours and how to access services.

Main prevention messages

Using condoms consistently and correctly protects against HIV and other STIs such as chlamydia, gonorrhoea, and syphilis – condoms can also be used to prevent unplanned pregnancy.

Regular screening for STIs and HIV is essential to maintain good sexual health – everyone should have an STI screen, including an HIV test, on at least an annual basis if having condomless sex with new or casual partners – and in addition:

• women, and other people with a womb and ovaries, aged under 25 years who are sexually active should have a chlamydia test annually and on change of sexual partner

• gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) should have tests for HIV and STIs annually or every 3 months if having condomless sex with new or casual partners

HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is available for free from specialist SHSs and can be used to reduce an individual’s risk of acquiring HIV.

HIV post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) can be used to reduce the risk of acquiring HIV following some sexual exposures – PEP is available for free from most specialist SHSs and most emergency departments.

People living with diagnosed HIV who are on treatment and have an undetectable viral load are unable to pass on the infection to others during sex – this is known as ‘Undetectable=Untransmittable’ or ‘U=U’.

Vaccination against HPV, hepatitis A and hepatitis B will protect against disease caused by these viruses and prevent the spread of these infections:

• GBMSM can obtain the hepatitis A and hepatitis B vaccines from specialist SHSs – these vaccines are also available for other people at high risk of exposure to the viruses

• GBMSM aged up to and including 45 years can obtain the HPV vaccine from specialist SHSs

Specialist sexual health services are free and confidential and offer testing and treatment for HIV and STIs, condoms, vaccination, HIV PrEP and PEP:

• clinic-based services are commissioned for residents of all areas in England

• online self-sampling for HIV and STIs is widely available

• information and advice about sexual health including how to access services is available at Sexwise, NHS.UK and from the national sexual health helpline on 0300 123 7123

Charts, tables and maps

Figure 1: New STI diagnosis rates by UKHSA region of residence, England, 2022

Data sources: GUMCAD, CTAD

Figure 1 is a bar chart showing the rate of new STI diagnoses per 100,000 population by UKHSA region of residence in 2022. The East of England had the lowest rate (445.1 per 100,000) in England. London had the highest rate (1,397.3 per 100,000).

Figure 2: Number of diagnoses of the 5 main STIs, East of England residents, 2018 to 2022

Data sources: GUMCAD, CTAD

[Note 1] Any increase in gonorrhoea diagnoses may be due to the increased use of highly sensitive nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) and additional screening of extra-genital sites in GBMSM. Any decrease in genital wart diagnoses may be due to a moderately protective effect of HPV-16/18 vaccination. Any increase in genital herpes diagnoses may be due to the use of more sensitive NAATs. Increases or decreases may also reflect changes in testing practices.

Figure 2 shows trend lines for the number of diagnoses of the 5 main STIs among East of England residents from 2018 to 2022. The number of diagnoses of chlamydia, genital warts and genital herpes were lower in 2022 compared to 2018. The number of diagnoses of gonorrhoea and syphilis showed an increase in diagnoses from 2018 to 2022.

Figure 3: Diagnosis rates of the 5 main STIs, East of England residents, 2018 to 2022

Data sources: GUMCAD, CTAD

See note 1 above.

Table 1. Percentage change in new STI diagnoses, East of England residents

Diagnoses	2022	Percentage change 2018 to 2022	Percentage change 2021 to 2022
New STIs	29,537	-20%	15%
Syphilis	517	76%	18%
Gonorrhoea	4,494	31%	58%
Chlamydia	15,442	-15%	9%
Genital herpes	2,377	-23%	20%
Genital warts	2,450	-55%	-7%

Data sources: GUMCAD, CTAD

See note 1 above.

Table 1 shows the percentage change in new STI diagnoses in East of England residents. In 2021, 29,537 new STI diagnoses were made in the East of England, which was 15% higher than 2021 and 20% lower than in 2018. Syphilis, gonorrhoea, chlamydia, and genital herpes all increased between 2021 and 2022. Diagnoses of genital warts decreased between 2021 and 2022.

Figure 4: Rates of new STIs per 100,000 residents by age group (for those aged 15 to 64 years only) and gender in the East of England, 2022

Data sources: GUMCAD, CTAD

Figure 4 is a bar chart showing that the highest rates of new STIs in 2022 were in the group aged 20 to 24 years for both males and females, with a higher rate of diagnosis in females. The lowest rates of new STIs in 2022 were in those aged 45 to 65 years for both males and females.

Figure 5: Rates of gonorrhoea per 100,000 residents by age group (for those aged 15 to 64 years only) in the East of England, 2018 to 2022

Data sources: GUMCAD

Figure 5 shows trends lines for rates of gonorrhoea per 100,000 residents by age group in the East of England from 2018 to 2022. The highest rate of gonorrhoea was in those aged 20 to 24 years and the lowest in those aged 45 to 64 years. Rates of gonorrhoea increased in all age groups between 2021 and 2022.

Figure 6: Rates of genital warts per 100,000 residents aged 15 to 19 years by gender in the East of England, 2018 to 2022

Data sources: GUMCAD

Figure 6 shows trend lines for the rate of genital warts per 100,000 residents aged 15 to 19 years by gender in the East of England between 2018 and 2022. The rate of genital warts decreased from 2018 to 2022 in both males (74.3 per 100,000 to 6.9 per 100,000) and females (263.9 per 100,000 to 14.2 per 100,000).

Figure 7: Rates of new STIs by ethnic group per 100,000 residents in the East of England, 2022

Data sources: GUMCAD, CTAD

Figure 7 is a bar chart showing rates of new STIs by ethnic group per 100,000 in the East of England in 2022. The black Caribbean ethnic group had the highest rate of STIs in 2022 (1,542.4 per 100,000) followed by the black African ethnic group (1,158.8 per 100,000), all other ethnic groups combined (467.9 per 100,000) and the white ethnic group (380.9 per 100,000).

Table 2: Proportion of East of England residents diagnosed with a new STI by ethnicity, 2022

Ethnic group	Number	Percentage excluding unknown
White	21,651	79%
Black Caribbean	692	3%
Black African	1,625	6%
All other ethnic groups combined	3,521	13%
Unknown	2,048

Data sources: GUMCAD, CTAD

Table 2 shows the proportion of East of England residents diagnosed with a new STI by ethnicity in 2022. The white ethnic group made up the greatest proportion (79%) and the black Caribbean ethnic group the lowest proportion (3%).

Figure 8: Proportion of East of England residents diagnosed with a new STI by world region of birth [note 2], 2022

Data sources: GUMCAD data only

[Note 2] Data on country of birth is not collected by CTAD. All information about world region of birth is based on diagnoses made in specialist and non-specialist services which report to GUMCAD.

Figure 8 is a bar chart showing the proportion of East of England residents diagnosed with a new STI by world region of birth in 2022. The highest proportion was in those who were UK born (79%) followed by the EU excluding UK (8%).

Figure 9: Rates of new STIs per 100,000 residents by decile of deprivation [note 3] in the East of England, 2022

Data sources: GUMCAD, CTAD

[Note 3] Deciles run from 1 to 10 in order of decreasing deprivation.

Figure 9 is a bar chart showing rates of new STIs per 100,000 residents by decile of deprivation. The highest rates are in those living in the most deprived areas. Rates increased from the least deprived (Decile 10) to the most deprived areas (Decile 1).

Figure 10: Diagnoses of the 5 main STIs among GBMSM [note 4], East of England residents, 2018 to 2022

Data sources: GUMCAD data only

[Note 4] Data on sexual orientation is not collected by CTAD. All information about GBMSM is based on diagnoses made in specialist and non-specialist services which report to GUMCAD and exclude chlamydia diagnoses via online services.

[Note 5] It is important to consider whether there have been any changes to testing or vaccination practices when interpreting increases or decreases in STIs. Increases in gonorrhoea may be due to the increased use of highly sensitive nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) and additional screening of extra-genital sites in GBMSM. Decreases in genital wart diagnoses may be due to the moderately protective effect of HPV-16/18 vaccination. Increases in genital herpes diagnoses may be due to the use of more sensitive NAATs.

Figure 10 shows trend lines for diagnoses of the 5 main STIs among GBMSM resident in the East of England from 2018 to 2022. Diagnoses of genital herpes and genital warts declined during this time period, but diagnoses of gonorrhoea and syphilis increased. Gonorrhoea had the highest number of diagnoses in 2022 (1,765) followed by chlamydia (744).

Figure 11: Diagnosis rates of the 5 main STIs among GBMSM [note 6], East of England residents, 2018 to 2022

Data sources: GUMCAD, CTAD

[Note 6] Data on sexual orientation is not collected by CTAD. All information about GBMSM is based on diagnoses made in specialist and non-specialist services which report to GUMCAD and exclude chlamydia diagnoses via online services. The denominators for rates are based on sexual orientation information collected by the 2021 census and for each region the same estimate has been used for all years in the chart.

[Note 7] It is important to consider whether there have been any changes to testing or vaccination practices when interpreting increases or decreases in STIs. Increases in gonorrhoea may be due to the increased use of highly sensitive nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) and additional screening of extra-genital sites in GBMSM. Decreases in genital wart diagnoses may be due to the moderately protective effect of HPV-16/18 vaccination. Increases in genital herpes diagnoses may be due to the use of more sensitive NAATs.

Figure 11 shows trend lines for diagnosis rates for the 5 main STIs among GBMSM resident in the East of England between 2018 and 2022 per 100,000 population. The highest rate in 2022 was for gonorrhoea (2,846.8 per 100,000) and the lowest was for genital herpes (133.9 per 100,000). Diagnosis rates increased between 2018 and 2022 for both syphilis and gonorrhoea.

Table 3: Percentage change in new STI diagnoses in GBMSM [see notes 6 and 7] resident in the East of England

Diagnoses	2022	Percentage change 2018 to 2022	Percentage change 2021 to 2022
New STIs	3,445	10%	31%
Syphilis	295	40%	22%
Gonorrhoea	1,765	46%	52%
Chlamydia	744	-13%	0%
Genital herpes	83	-8%	51%
Genital warts	116	-49%	-8%

Data sources: GUMCAD data only

Table 3 shows the percentage change in new STI diagnoses in GBMSM resident in the East of England in 2022. In 2022, 3,445 new STI diagnoses were made in GBMSM in the East of England. Gonorrhoea showed the greatest percentage increase (52%) between 2021 and 2022 followed by genital herpes (51%).

Figure 12a: Rate of new STI diagnoses per 100,000 population by upper tier local authority of residence, East of England residents, 2022

Data sources: GUMCAD, CTAD

Figure 12a is a bar chart showing the rate of new STI diagnoses per 100,000 population among East of England residents by upper tier local authority of residence in 2022. Luton (630 per 100,000), Milton Keynes (607 per 100,000) and Peterborough (557 per 100,000) had the highest rates. The lowest rate was in Central Bedfordshire (355 per 100,000). 

Figure 12b: Rate of new STI diagnoses (excluding chlamydia diagnoses in residents aged 24 and under) per 100,000 population by upper tier local authority of residence, the East of England, 2022

Data sources: GUMCAD, CTAD

[Note 8] Prior to 2023, this figure showed rates for the population aged 15 to 64 years, excluding chlamydia in those aged 15 to 24 years.

Figure 12b is a bar chart showing the rate of new STI diagnoses per 100,000 population among East of England residents excluding chlamydia diagnoses in residents aged less than 25 years by upper tier local authority of residence in 2022. Luton, Peterborough, and Milton Keynes continue to have the highest rates as in Figure 12a. However, Southend-on-Sea now has the lowest rate (205 per 100,000).

Figure 13: Chlamydia detection rate per 100,000 female residents aged 15 to 24 years by upper tier local authority of residence, the East of England, 2022

Data sources: GUMCAD, CTAD

[Note 9] Prior to 2023, this figure showed rates for the whole population aged 15 to 24 years, regardless of gender.

Figure 13 is a bar chart showing the chlamydia detection rate per 100,000 population aged 15 to 24 years in East of England residents by upper tier local authority of residence in 2022. The highest rate was in Milton Keynes (2,260 per 100,000) followed by Southend-on-Sea (1,944 per 100,000). The lowest rate was in Cambridgeshire (1,142 per 100,000).

Figure 14: Rate of gonorrhoea diagnoses per 100,000 population by upper tier local authority of residence, East of England residents, 2022

Data sources: GUMCAD

Figure 14 is a bar chart showing the rate of gonorrhoea diagnoses per 100,000 population in East of England residents by upper tier local authority of residence in 2022. Luton had the highest rate (105 per 100,000) followed by Peterborough (102 per 100,000) and Milton Keynes (94 per 100,000). The lowest rate was in Suffolk (38 per 100,000).

Figure 15: Map of new STI rates per 100,000 residents by upper tier local authority in the East of England, 2022

Data sources: GUMCAD, CTAD

Figure 15 is a map of all East of England upper tier local authorities showing new STI rates per 100,000 residents in 2022. 5 local authorities (Milton Keynes, Luton, Peterborough, Thurrock, and Bedford) had rates within the 500 to 750 per 100,000 range. All other upper tier local authorities had rates below 500 per 100,000.

Figure 16: STI testing rate (excluding chlamydia in under 25 year olds) per 100,000 population in East of England residents aged 15 to 64 years, 2018 to 2022

Data sources: GUMCAD, CTAD

Figure 16 shows trend lines for STI testing rate (excluding chlamydia in those aged under 25 years) per 100,000 in East of England residents aged 15 to 64 years between 2018 and 2022. The East of England testing rate has been consistently below the England rate. The testing rate in the East of England was higher in 2022 (2,972.6 per 100,000) compared to 2018 (2,808.1 per 100,000). 

Figure 17: STI testing positivity rate [note 10] (excluding chlamydia in under 25 year olds) in East of England residents, 2018 to 2022

Data sources: GUMCAD, CTAD

[Note 10] The numerator for the STI testing positivity rate now only includes infections which are also included in the denominator. These are: chlamydia (excluding diagnoses in those aged under 25 years), gonorrhoea, syphilis and HIV. Up to 2018 (data for 2017) it included all new STIs.

Figure 17 shows trend lines for STI testing positivity rate (excluding chlamydia in those aged under 25 years) in East of England residents between 2018 and 2022. The East of England testing positivity has consistently been below the England rate. The testing positivity was higher in 2022 (5.5%) compared with 2018 (4.9%).

Table 4: Number of diagnoses of new STIs by UKHSA region of residence, data source and data subset 2022

UKHSA region of residence	GUMCAD: specialist SHSs	GUMCAD: non-specialist SHSs [note 11]	CTAD [note 12]	Total
East Midlands	13,901	8,518	5,492	27,911
East of England	16,850	6,310	6,377	29,537
London	82,589	11,598	28,725	122,912
North East	10,605	1,687	3,387	15,679
North West	33,005	5,925	10,192	49,122
South East	32,427	2,699	10,088	45,214
South West	17,085	4,187	6,660	27,932
West Midlands	18,965	4,920	5,982	29,867
Yorkshire and Humber	20,361	3,283	9,734	33,378

Table 5: Number of diagnoses of the 5 main STIs in the East of England by STI, data source and data subset 2022

5 main STIs	GUMCAD: specialist SHSs	GUMCAD: non-specialist SHSs [note 11]	CTAD [note 12]	Total
Syphilis	516	1		517
Gonorrhoea	2,643	1,851		4,494
Chlamydia	4,713	4,352	6,377	15,442
Genital herpes	2,365	12		2,377
Genital warts	2,416	34		2,450

Data sources: GUMCAD, CTAD

[Note 11] Diagnoses from enhanced GPs reporting to GUMCAD are included in the ‘Non-specialist sexual health services (SHSs)’ total.

[Note 12] Including site type 12 chlamydia from GUMCAD.

Table 5 shows the number of diagnoses of the 5 main STIs in the East of England by source of diagnosis in 2022. Most diagnoses came from specialist sexual health services. CTAD is a surveillance system for chlamydia only and most diagnoses for chlamydia (6,377) came from this system.

Figure 18: Consultations by medium: East of England residents, 2018 to 2022

Data sources: GUMCAD

Figure 18 is a bar chart showing the number of consultations in East of England residents by type of consultation – either face to face, online or via telephone. Between 2018 and 2021, most consultations were performed face to face. However, over time the number performed online and via telephone has increased significantly and in 2022 the number of online consultations was higher than those face to face for the first time (190,288 compared to 151,634).

Information on data sources

Find more information on local sexual health data sources in the UKHSA guide.

This report is based on data from the GUMCAD and CTAD surveillance systems published on 6 June 2023 (data to the end of calendar year 2022).

GUMCAD surveillance system

This disaggregate reporting system collects information about attendances and diagnoses at specialist (Level 3) and non-specialist (Level 2) sexual health services. Information about the patient’s area of residence is collected along with demographic data and other variables. GUMCAD superseded the earlier KC60 system and can provide data from 2009 onwards. GUMCAD is the main source of data for this report.

Due to limits on how much personally identifiable information sexual health clinics are able to share, it is not possible to deduplicate between different clinics. There is a possibility that some patients may be counted more than once if they are diagnosed with the same infection (for infection specific analyses) or a new STI of any type (for new STI analyses) at different clinics during the same calendar year.

CTAD surveillance system

CTAD collects data on all NHS and local authority or NHS-commissioned chlamydia testing carried out in England. CTAD is comprised of all chlamydia (NAATs) tests for all ages (with the exception of conjunctival samples), from all venues and for all reasons. CTAD enables unified, comprehensive reporting of all chlamydia data, to effectively monitor the impact of the NCSP through estimation of the coverage of population screening, proportion of all tests that are positive and detection rates.

For services which report to GUMCAD and for which CTAD does not receive data on the patient’s area of residence (for example, SHSs), information about chlamydia diagnoses is sourced from GUMCAD data.

CTAD does not collect information about sexual orientation or country of birth. Reports from CTAD are excluded from figures in this report which relate to analyses by sexual orientation or world region of birth.

New STIs

New STI diagnoses comprise diagnoses of the following:

• chancroid

• LGV

• donovanosis

• chlamydia

• gonorrhoea

• genital herpes (first episode)

• HIV (acute and AIDS defining)

• Molluscum contagiosum

• non-specific genital infection (NSGI)

• non-specific pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and epididymitis

• chlamydial PID and epididymitis (presented in chlamydia total)

• gonococcal PID and epididymitis (presented in gonorrhoea total)

• scabies

• pediculosis pubis

• syphilis (primary, secondary and early latent)

• trichomoniasis and genital warts (first episode)

• Mycoplasma genitalium

• Shigella

Calculations

Confidence Intervals were calculated using Byar’s method.

ONS mid-year population estimates for 2021 were used as a denominator for rates (other than by ethnic group) for 2022. Population estimates for 2021 are used as the denominator for rates for 2022. ONS estimates of population by ethnic group for the year 2021 were used as a denominator for rates by ethnic group for 2022. This is the first time that new estimates of population by ethnic group have been available since 2011. This must be considered if comparing rates for 2022 in this report with rates by 2021 in last year’s report, as the rates in the last report used the 2011 estimates.

Further information

As of 2020, all analyses for this report include data from non-specialist (Level 2) SHSs and enhanced GP services as well as specialist (Level 3) SHSs.

For further information, access the online Sexual and Reproductive Health Profiles.

For more information on local sexual health data sources, see the UKHSA guide.

Local authorities have access to The Summary Profile of Local Authority Sexual Health (SPLASH) Reports (accessible from the Sexual and Reproductive Health Profiles) and the SPLASH supplement reports via the HIV and STI Data exchange.

For an Annual Epidemiological Spotlight on HIV in the East of England, contact eoe.stihiv@ukhsa.gov.uk

About the Field Service

The Field Service was established in 2018 as a national service comprising geographically dispersed multi-disciplinary teams integrating expertise in Field Epidemiology, Real-time Syndromic Surveillance, Public Health Microbiology and Food, Water and Environmental Microbiology to strengthen the surveillance, intelligence and response functions of UKHSA.

You can contact your local Field Service team at eoe.stihiv@ukhsa.gov.uk

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the following:

• local SHSs for supplying the SHS data

• local laboratories for supplying the CTAD data

• UKHSA Blood Safety, Hepatitis, Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) and HIV Division for collection, analysis and distribution of data

If you have any comments or feedback regarding this report or the Field Service, contact eoe.stihiv@ukhsa.gov.uk

References

1. UKHSA press release. HPV vaccination programme moves to single dose from September 2023

2. Mohammed H, Blomquist P, Ogaz D, Duffell S, Furegato M, Checchi M and others. 100 years of STIs in the UK: a review of national surveillance data Sexually Transmitted Infections 2018: volume 94, issue 8, pages 553 to 558

3. Changes to the National Chlamydia Screening Programme (NCSP) 2021, Public Health England, (accessed 11 May 2023)

4. Migchelsen SJ, Enayat Q, Harb AK, Daahir U, Slater L, Anderson A and others. Sexually transmitted infections and screening for chlamydia in England: 2022 report

5. Brown JR, Reid D, Howarth AR, Mohammed H, Saunders J, Pulford CV and others. Sexual behaviour, STI and HIV testing and testing need among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men recruited for online surveys pre/post-COVID-19 restrictions in the UK Sexually Transmitted Infections March 2023

6. Public Health England. Trends of Lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) in England: 2019

7. Thorley K, Charles H, Mitchell H, Jenkins C, Godbole G, Sinka K. Sexually transmitted Shigella spp. in England: data up to quarter 2, 2022