Brook position statement - sexually transmitted infections

We want all young people to be well informed about the risks of sexually transmitted infections, so that they can protect their sexual health. If everyone learns about sex and relationships at school, and they have easy access to confidential services, we believe they will be able enjoy their sexuality without harm. We should not undermine the progress being made by health promotion messages, in an effort to reach screening targets.

Brook’s position on sexually transmitted infections

We believe that young people need to be well informed about the risks of sexually transmitted infections so, when they decide they are ready to become sexually active, they are able to protect their own sexual health and enjoy their sexuality without harm.

16 to 24 year olds are the group most at risk from sexually transmitted infections. Increased screening and awareness has lead to a rise in diagnoses, particularly in cases of Chlamydia; but continuing evidence of risky sexual behaviour points to a need for greater improvement in education and prevention programmes, to help reduce the dangers posed to young people’s sexual health. 

Brook believes that statutory relationships and sex education (RSE), and the availability of confidential services, is key to ensuring young people have the information and skills they need to protect themselves. By providing integrated contraception and STI services, in community settings, we can help reduce stigma and make services easier to use.

The information, education and services we provide should be relevant to young people’s everyday experiences of sex and relationships. The messages we give out need to make the link between drugs and alcohol and unplanned pregnancy, STIs and HIV, and have meaning within the context of young people’s lives.

We believe that, in the push to reach STI screening targets, services risk giving mixed messages about the effectiveness of condom use, and undermining the progress being made by health education initiatives. And, while we believe it is right to encourage sexually active young people to get screened for infections, we do not support an ‘opt-out’ approach where everyone is screened, regardless of risk, unless they explicitly decline to be tested.  

Brook always encourages young people to use condoms, either on their own or in addition to their usual method of contraception, to protect them and their partners against sexually transmitted infections.

Key figures

• There has been a notable decline in some STIs in younger adults in recent years.   Between 2008 and 2010 in England, diagnoses of genital warts cases in women and men aged 15-19 fell by 13% and 8% while those of gonorrhoea fell by 13% and 14% respectively.(1)
• Diagnoses of Chlamydia remained stable between 2009 and 2010 despite the increased number of tests carried out. (2)
• Young people still experience high rates of STIs.   Of those diagnosed in GUM clinics in England in 2010, 63% with chlamydia, 54% with genital warts, 47% with gonorrhoea, and 41% with genital herpes were under 25 years.(3)
• 5.1% of men and 5.9% of women aged 15-24 who had Chlamydia screening were positive(4)

References

1 Health Protection Agency, STI annual data tables England 2001-2010, HPA, 2011
2 Health Protection Agency, ibid
3 Health Protection Agency, ibid
4 NCSP Data Presentations 2010/11

Publication date: November 2011