Research and analysis

Spotlight on sexually transmitted infections in the North West: 2024 data

Updated 29 January 2026

Applies to England

Summary

While this report primarily focuses on the trend between 2023 and 2024, some trends relative to 2019 or earlier are included to provide a comparison to sexual health service provision and STI diagnoses prior to the COVID-19 pandemic during 2020 and 2021. For England, the numbers of consultations, sexual health screens, and STI diagnoses in 2020 and 2021 are lower than preceding years, and any trends during periods which include those years must be interpreted in that context.

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) represent an important public health problem in the North West. Of all the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) regions it has the second highest rate of new STIs in England.

A total of 47,095 new STIs were diagnosed in North West residents in 2024, a rate of 620 diagnoses per 100,000 population. Rates by upper-tier local authority ranged from 298 new STI diagnoses per 100,000 population in Westmorland and Furness to 1,513 new STI diagnoses per 100,000 population in Manchester.

The number of new STIs diagnosed in North West residents decreased by 10% between 2023 and 2024. Changes were seen in the numbers of the 5 major STIs:

• syphilis increased by 16%
• gonorrhoea decreased by 15%
• chlamydia decreased by 17%
• genital herpes increased by 13%
• genital warts increased by 6%

UKHSA recommends that local areas should be working towards achieving a chlamydia detection rate no lower than 3,250 per 100,000 among women aged 15 to 24 years, and this is an indicator in the Public Health Outcomes Framework. In 2024, the chlamydia detection rate among North West women aged 15 to 24 years was 1,796 per 100,000 residents.

Rates of new STIs differ somewhat between men and women (643 and 544 per 100,000 residents, respectively). Where gender and sexual orientation are known, gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) account for 24% of North West residents diagnosed with a new STI, excluding chlamydia diagnoses reported via Chlamydia Testing Activity Dataset (CTAD) (74% of those diagnosed with syphilis and 50% of those diagnosed with gonorrhoea).

STIs disproportionately affect young people. North West residents aged between 15 and 24 years accounted for 43% of all new STI diagnoses in 2024. A steep decline has been seen in genital warts diagnosis rates in females aged 15 to 19 following the introduction in 2008 of vaccination against human papillomavirus (HPV), the virus which causes genital warts, for girls. Recent years have seen fluctuating rates, though, with a 33% decrease in the North West from 2020 to 2024.

The White ethnic group has the highest number of new STI diagnoses: 31,661 (81.6%). Although 1.4% of new STIs are in the Black Caribbean ethnic group, they have the highest rate: 2,160 per 100,000, which is 4.3 times the rate seen in the White ethnic group. Where the country of birth was known, 85% of North West residents diagnosed with a new STI in 2024 (excluding chlamydia diagnoses reported via CTAD) were UK-born. The rate of new STIs among people who lived in the most deprived areas (746 per 100,000) was 2.4 times higher than the rate for people who live in the least deprived areas (310 per 100,000).

Conclusion

In conclusion, the North West has the second-highest rate of new STI infections in England and continues to bear a heavy burden of STIs. The number of new STI diagnoses declined by 10% between 2023 and 2024, but there were 38% higher diagnoses of new STIs in 2024 compared to 2020. Sexual health consultations carried out for North West residents increased by just 1% between 2023 and 2024, but were 11% higher than in 2020. Detections of genital herpes, genital warts and syphilis increased between 2023 and 2024, chlamydia and gonorrhoea diagnoses decreased by 17% and 15% in 2023 to 2024, respectively. While diagnoses of genital herpes, chlamydia, gonorrhoea, genital herpes and syphilis increased compared to 2020, genital warts diagnoses were 4% lower. STIs continued to disproportionately impact young people aged 20 to 24, GBMSM, and people of Black Caribbean and Black African ethnicity in the North West. To mitigate the spread of sexually transmitted infections in the area, local health services must continue to place a strong priority on early detection, prevention, and focused interventions, especially in high-risk groups. Enhanced efforts towards achieving recommended chlamydia detection rates among young people and addressing gaps in STI rates across ethnic and socio-economic groups are critical for improving sexual health outcomes in the North West.

UKHSA’s main messages

Commissioners and providers of sexual health services (SHSs) have an important role in communicating messages about safer sexual behaviours and communicating messages about safer sex practices and how to obtain sexual healthcare. Main prevention messages include:

• 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
• doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis (DoxyPEP) is recommended to people at risk of syphilis to reduce their risk of infection. DoxyPEP is available at specialist SHSs
• 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 human papillomavirus (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

  • additional vaccines are recommended for people at high risk of acquiring gonorrhoea and mpox

  • GBMSM who have a recent history of multiple sexual partners or an STI and other high risk groups are eligible for a meningococcal B disease vaccine (4CMenB) which can protect against gonorrhoea and help tackle the increasing levels of antibiotic resistant strains of the disease
  • mpox vaccination is available for those at increased risk, including GBMSM who have a recent history of multiple sexual partners
• specialist SHSs 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 Sexual Health Services 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, 2024

Data sources: GUMCAD, CTAD

Figure 1 is a bar chart showing that the rate of new STI diagnoses per 100,000 in the North West (619.7) was the second highest in England, with London having the highest rate.

Figure 2. Number of diagnoses of the 5 main STIs, North West residents, 2020 to 2024

Data sources: GUMCAD, CTAD

Note 1: It is important to consider whether there have been any changes to testing or vaccination practices when interpreting increases or decreases in STIs:

• 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

Figure 2 shows trend lines of the number of diagnoses of syphilis, gonorrhoea, chlamydia, genital herpes and genital warts for North West residents from 2020 to 2024. Chlamydia is the most diagnosed bacterial STI; in part reflecting the wide availability of chlamydia testing across a range of settings. The figure shows that chlamydia has been increasing since 2020, with 28,053 diagnoses in 2023 but experienced a decline in diagnoses in 2024 with 23,279 (17% percentage decrease from 2023 to 2024). A similar trend has been seen for gonorrhoea, decreasing to 8,459 diagnoses in 2024 (15% percentage decrease from 2023 to 2024). The number of diagnoses of syphilis, genital herpes, and genital warts are smaller in comparison to chlamydia and gonorrhoea and therefore the trend is difficult to see due to the scale used for this figure. Diagnoses of genital warts decreased by 4% between 2020 and 2024, while diagnoses of both genital herpes and syphilis increased by 56%.

Table 1. Percentage change in new STI diagnoses, North West residents

Diagnoses	2024	Percentage change 2020 to 2024	Percentage change 2023 to 2024
Chlamydia	23,279	28%	−17%
Genital herpes	3,822	56%	13%
Genital warts	3,297	−4%	6%
Gonorrhoea	8,459	94%	−15%
Syphilis	1,107	56%	16%
Other	7,131	47%	1%
All new STIs	47,095	38%	−10%

Data sources: GUMCAD, CTAD

See note 1 for Figure 2

See section New STIs for a list of diagnoses that are included in the other STIs.

Table 1 shows that chlamydia was the most diagnosed STI among North West residents in 2024 with 23,279 diagnoses. Genital herpes and syphilis saw the largest increase in the number of cases between 2023 to 2024, increasing by 13% and 16%, respectively. The number of gonorrhea and chlamydia diagnoses decreased between 2023 and 2024, reducing the number of diagnoses by 15% and 17%, respectively.

Figure 3. Rates of new STIs per 100,000 North West residents by age group (for those aged 15 to 64 years only) and gender, 2024

Data sources: GUMCAD, CTAD

Figure 3 is a bar chart showing rates of new STI diagnoses in North West residents by age group and gender. Females aged 20 to 24 years old presented the highest rates of new STIs in the North West, and males in the same age group also presented the highest rate for their gender.

Figure 4. Rates of gonorrhoea per 100,000 North West residents by age group
[note 2] (for those aged 15 to 64 years only), 2020 to 2024

Data sources: GUMCAD

Note 2: Age-specific rates are shown for those aged 15 to 64 years only.

Figure 4 shows a line graph of the rate of gonorrhea per 100,000 population by age group in the North West from 2020 to 2024. Rates in all age groups present an increasing trend, particularly between 2021 and 2022. The age group 20 to 24 consistently had the highest rate over the covered period. However, there was a rate decline amongst the 20-to-24 and 15-to-19 age groups in 2024 when compared to 2023.

Figure 5. Rates of genital warts per 100,000 North West residents aged 15 to 19 years by gender, 2020 to 2024

Data sources: GUMCAD

Figure 5 is a line graph showing rates of genital warts per 100,000 among North West residents aged 15 to 19 years by gender from 2020 to 2024. The graph shows that rates in both males and females decreased between 2020 and 2022. Female rates increased in 2023 to levels comparable to 2021, and decreased again in 2024 (15.8). Male rates continued to decrease in 2023 and saw a subtle increase in 2024 (12.3).

Figure 6. Rates of new STIs per 100,000 North West residents by ethnic group, 2024

Data sources: GUMCAD, CTAD

Figure 6 is a bar chart showing the rates of new STIs by ethnic group per 100,000 residents in the North West in 2024. The rate of new STI diagnoses was higher among the Black Caribbean ethnic group (2,160.3 cases per 100,000), when compared to the Black African ethnic group (1,438.3 per 100,000), White ethnic group (498.8 per 100,000), and all other ethnic groups combined (520.7 per 100,000).

Table 2. Percentage of new STI diagnoses among North West residents by ethnic group, 2024

Ethnic group	Number	Percentage (excluding unknown)
All other ethnic groups combined	4,777	12.3%
Black African	1,821	4.7%
Black Caribbean	560	1.4%
White	31,661	81.6%
unknown	8,276

Data sources: GUMCAD, CTAD

Table 2 shows that the highest number of new STI diagnoses occurred in people in the White ethnic group (31,661), representing 81.6% of all new STI diagnoses. The Black Caribbean and Black African ethnic groups made up 1.4%, and 4.7% of the cases, respectively.

Figure 7. Percentage of North West residents diagnosed with a new STI by world region of birth [note 3], 2024

Data sources: GUMCAD data only

Note 3: 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 7 is a bar chart showing the percentage of North West residents diagnosed with a new STI in 2024 by world region of birth. People born in the UK constitute the highest proportion of diagnosis (85%), with the second highest are European Union born (5%), and Sub-Saharan Africa born (4%).

Figure 8. Rates of new STIs per 100,000 North West residents by decile of deprivation [note 4], 2024

Data sources: GUMCAD, CTAD

Note 4: Deciles run from 1 to 10 in order of decreasing deprivation, with 1 being the decile for the most deprived area.

Figure 8 is a bar chart displaying the rate of new STI diagnoses in 2024 per 100,000 North West residents by decile of deprivation. Decile 1 is the most deprived while decile 10 is the least deprived. The rate of new STI diagnoses is similar across deciles 1 to 4. Among deciles 5 to 10 (the 6 least deprived deciles), the rate of new STI diagnoses increases with increased deprivation decile (from 310 to 554 diagnoses per 100,000 residents in deciles 10 and 5, respectively).

Figure 9. Diagnoses of the 5 main STIs among GBMSM [notes 5 and 6], North West residents, 2020 to 2024

Data sources: GUMCAD data only

Note 5: 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 6: 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 9 is a line graph that shows trends of diagnoses of the 5 main STIs (chlamydia, genital herpes, genital warts, gonorrhea, and syphilis) among GBMSM North West residents from 2020 to 2024. The graph shows a significant fall in gonorrhea, chlamydia and syphilis in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic followed by an increase between 2021 and 2022. The number of gonorrhoea diagnoses increased between 2023 and 2024, while the number of chlamydia diagnoses decreased during the same period. Syphilis, genital herpes and genital warts slightly increased between 2023 and 2024.

Table 3. Percentage change in new STI diagnoses in GBMSM [notes 5 and 6] residents in the North West

Diagnoses	2023	2024	Percentage change 2023 to 2024
Chlamydia	2,505	2,071	−17%
Genital Herpes	188	229	22%
Genital Warts	188	240	28%
Gonorrhoea	3,431	3,903	14%
Syphilis	658	759	15%
Other	1,028	1,050	2%
All new STIs	7,998	8,252	3%

Data sources: GUMCAD data only

See section New STIs for a list of diagnoses that are included in the other STIs.

Table 3 shows the number of diagnoses of syphilis, gonorrhoea, genital warts, genital herpes, and chlamydia among GBMSM North West residents in 2024 and the percentage change between 2023 and 2024. The overall number of new STI diagnoses among GBMSM North West residents rose by 3% from 2023 to 2024. Gonorrhea was the most common STI with 3,903 new diagnoses among GBMSM in 2024. The largest percentage increase from 2023 to 2024 was seen in genital warts, which increased by 28%. Chlamydia presented the only decrease in number of diagnoses from 2023 to 2024, falling by 17%.

Figure 10. Rate of new STI diagnoses per 100,000 North West residents by upper-tier local authority of residence, 2024

Data sources: GUMCAD, CTAD

Figure 10 is a bar chart showing the rate of new STI diagnoses in 2024 among North West residents by upper-tier local authority, compared to the regional (620 diagnoses per 100,000) and England (631 diagnoses per 100,000) rates. The rates in local authorities ranged from 298 per 100,000 in Westmorland and Furness to 1,513 per 100,000 in Manchester. Four local authorities had a rate above the England rate (Manchester (1,513), Blackpool (1,063), Liverpool (1,054), and Salford (991)).

Figure 11. Rate of new STI diagnoses (excluding chlamydia diagnoses in residents aged under 25 years [note 7] per 100,000 North West residents by upper-tier local authority of residence, 2024

Data sources: GUMCAD, CTAD

Note 7: Chlamydia diagnoses in the target group of the National Chlamydia Screening Programme NCSP (those aged 15 to 24 years) are excluded because these diagnoses could reflect how NCSP is implemented locally rather than actual prevalence.

Figure 11 is a bar chart showing the rate of new STI diagnoses (excluding chlamydia diagnoses in people below 25 years) per 100,000 population in 2024 among North West residents by upper-tier local authority, compared to the region (448 diagnoses per 100,000) and England (482 diagnoses per 100,000) rates. The rates in local authorities ranged from 180 per 100,000 in Westmorland and Furness to 1,084 per 100,000 in Manchester. Four local authorities had a rate above the England rate (Manchester (1,084), Salford (806), Liverpool (736), and Blackpool (708)).

Figure 12. Chlamydia detection rate per 100,000 female North West residents aged 15 to 24 years by upper-tier local authority of residence, 2024

Data sources: GUMCAD, CTAD

Figure 12 is a bar chart showing the chlamydia detection rate in 2024 among female North West residents aged 15 to 24 by upper-tier local authority. Only Blackpool had a detection rate above the Public Health Outcome Framework (PHOF) indicator of 3,250 diagnoses per 100 000 women. The lowest rate was in Knowsley with 1,211 detections per 100,000.

Figure 13. Rate of gonorrhoea diagnoses per 100,000 North West residents by upper-tier local authority of residence, 2024

Data sources: GUMCAD

Figure 13 is a bar chart showing the rate of gonorrhoea diagnoses per 100,000 in 2024 among North West residents by upper-tier local authority. It shows a large variation in the rate of gonorrhoea diagnoses from 32 per 100,000 in Westmorland and Furness to 272 per 100,000 in Manchester.

Figure 14. Map of new STI rates per 100,000 North West residents by upper-tier local authority, 2024

Data sources: GUMCAD, CTAD

Figure 14 is a map of new STI rates in 2024 across the North West by local authority. In general, urban areas of the North West (Liverpool, Manchester, Blackpool) had higher STI rates compared to rural areas.

Figure 15. Map of new STI rates per 100,000 North West residents by middle super output area (MSOA21), 2024

Data sources: GUMCAD, CTAD

Figure 16. STI testing rate (excluding chlamydia in under 25-year-olds [note 8] per 100,000 North West residents, 2012 to 2024

Data sources: GUMCAD, CTAD

Note 8: Chlamydia diagnoses in the target group of the National Chlamydia Screening Programme NCSP (those aged 15 to 24 years) are excluded because these diagnoses could reflect how NCSP is implemented locally rather than actual prevalence.

Figure 16 is a line graph showing the trend lines for the STI testing rate among North West and England residents from 2012 to 2024. The graph excludes chlamydia diagnoses in those aged 25 and under. The testing rate fell in both the North West and England between 2019 and 2020 but has increased since. The testing rate in the North West is consistently lower over time when compared to the rate in England.

Figure 17. STI testing positivity rate (excluding chlamydia in under 25-year-olds [note 9] in North West residents, 2012 to 2024

Data sources: GUMCAD, CTAD

Note 9: Chlamydia diagnoses in the target group of the National Chlamydia Screening Programme NCSP (those aged 15 to 24 years) are excluded because these diagnoses could reflect how NCSP is implemented locally rather than actual prevalence.

Figure 17 is a line graph showing the trends for the STI positivity rate (excluding chlamydia in those aged under 25 years) in the North West and England residents from 2012 to 2024. It shows that there was a sharp increase in positivity in the North West to 9.2% in 2022. This declined to 7.1% in 2024 but remained higher than the North West rate in the previous 10 years. In 2024, the positivity rate in the North West (7.1%) is slightly higher than the England rate (6.4%).

Table 4. Number of diagnoses of new STIs by UKHSA region of residence, data source and data subset 2024

UKHSA region of residence	GUMCAD specialist SHSs	GUMCAD non-specialist SHSs [note 10]	CTAD [note 11]	Total
East Midlands	13,865	5,900	4,244	24,009
East of England	17,674	2,317	6,551	26,542
London	87,381	11,044	23,995	122,420
North East	10,121	1,722	3,004	14,847
North West	33,672	4,248	9,175	47,095
South East	29,777	2,455	8,472	40,704
South West	17,434	2,856	4,797	25,087
West Midlands	19,125	4,566	3,618	27,309
Yorkshire and Humber	20,263	1,671	6,339	28,273
UK (not England or Wales)			3	3

Data sources: GUMCAD, CTAD

Note 10: Diagnoses from enhanced GPs reporting to GUMCAD are included in the ‘Non-specialist sexual health services (SHSs)’ total.

Note 11: Including site type 12 chlamydia from GUMCAD.

Table 4 shows the number of diagnoses of new STIs in 2024 by UKHSA region of residence, data source, and data subset. It shows that, in 2024, the highest number of new STIs were diagnosed in London residents (122,420), and the lowest in North East residents (14,847). The majority of new STIs were diagnosed in specialist sexual health services. A total of 47,095 of new STIs were diagnosed in North West residents in 2024.

Table 5. Number of diagnoses of the 5 main STIs in the North West by STI, data source and data subset 2024

Five main STIs	GUMCAD specialist SHSs	GUMCAD non-specialist SHSs [note 12]	CTAD [note 13]	Total
Chlamydia	11,213	2,891	9,175	23,279
Genital herpes	3,771	51		3,822
Genital warts	3,216	81		3,297
Gonorrhoea	7,315	1,144		8,459
Syphilis	1,074	33		1,107

Data sources: GUMCAD, CTAD

Note 12: Diagnoses from enhanced GPs reporting to GUMCAD are included in the ‘Non-specialist sexual health services (SHSs)’ total.

Note 13: Including site type 12 chlamydia from GUMCAD.

Table 5 shows the number of diagnoses of chlamydia, genital herpes, genital warts, syphilis, and gonorrhoea in 2024 in the North West by data source and data subset. It shows that the majority of new STIs are diagnosed in specialist sexual health services.

Figure 18. Consultations by service medium: North West residents, 2020 to 2024

Data sources: GUMCAD

Figure 18 is a bar chart showing consultations in the North West by service medium (face-to-face, online, or telephone) from 2020 to 2024. It shows that there was a decrease in the number of face-to-face consultations in 2021 (304,105), followed by a continuous, gradual increase between 2022 and 2024 (364,540). Online consultations increased between 2020 and 2024, and telephone consultations declined progressively between 2021 and 2024. Overall, the number of consultations in 2024 (483,905) is higher than in 2020 (436,468).

Information on data sources

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

The gender and age group chart is restricted to those aged 15 to 64 years as information about STIs in those aged 14 years and under is considered highly sensitive. Analyses specific to this group are not provided in routine outputs. Rates for those aged 65 or older are withheld to ensure that no deductive disclosure is possible for those aged 14 years and under. The proportion of STIs is very low in those aged 14 years and under or 65 years and older.

GUMCAD surveillance system

This disaggregated 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 that 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 that relate to analyses by sexual orientation or world-region of birth.

New STIs

New STI diagnoses comprise diagnoses of:

• 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 for numerators >= 10. For small numerators Byar’s method is less accurate and so an exact method based on the Poisson distribution is used.

Office for National Statistics (ONS) mid-year population estimates for 2023 were used as a denominator for rates (other than by ethnic group) for 2024. ONS estimates of population by ethnic group for the year 2019 were used as a denominator for rates by ethnic group for 2024. 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 2024 in this report with rates by 2023 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 HIV data, see the separate HIV Spotlight report.

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.

About the Field Services

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

You can contact your local FS team at FES.NorthWest@ukhsa.gov.uk

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank:

• 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