Condoms, campaigns and classrooms: key battlegrounds in the fight against rising STIs  

Eliza Bell, Brook’s Senior Communications and Policy Coordinator, discusses the findings of the latest report produced by the Women and Equalities Committee and comments on what needs to be done to combat rising STI rates. 

In March the Women and Equalities Committee (WEC) published a report about the prevalence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in young people. It warns that the current provision of Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) is “failing young people” and criticises funding cuts to sexual health services amidst spiralling STI rates.  

2022 saw record highs in diagnoses of some STIs, including gonorrhoea and syphilis.

The number of new gonorrhoea diagnoses reported in 2022 was the largest in any year since records began in 1918. New syphilis cases were the highest reported since 1948. 

The report also outlines where young people are turning to for information around sex and relationships: “In the absence of authoritative advice, young people are learning about sex and sexual health from online sources, social media and pornography.” 

In the face of these concerning findings, there are three key factors that can prevent the spread of STIs and improve sexual health outcomes.  

1. Good information and education: including reliable online sources of information and better RSE to encourage condom use, and regular testing. 
2. A non-stigmatising and enabling environment: so that people do not feel shame about discussing condoms and STIs.
3. Better access to free condoms, and easy access to in-person and digital STI testing.   

Each of these is highlighted by the WEC report but currently there are shortfalls in all areas.  

Despite becoming mandatory in September 2020, delivery of high-quality RSE in schools and colleges is still patchy and teachers are not equipped to facilitate non-stigmatising conversations about sex and condom use. In our recent survey of 2,069 young people, participants highlighted a need for more comprehensive sex education in schools including how to access services, types of contraception available and more information for people in non-heterosexual relationships. 

Tackling shame and stigma is one of the most powerful tools in preventing the spread of STIs and achieving better health outcomes.

Normalising discussing bodies with correct anatomical names in primary schools, and teaching about sex, condoms and contraception in secondary school before young people come across them on their own is a simple and effective way to do this.  

We are currently awaiting publication of the revised Relationships, Sex and Health Education guidance. Brook hopes this guidance, which will go through a period of consultation, will provide support for schools on how to confidently and effectively deliver those lessons which are so badly needed. 

In Sex Education Forum’s Young People’s RSE Poll 2024, 35% of respondents said they learnt nothing at all or not enough about STIs and 46% learnt nothing at all or not enough about how to access local sexual health services.  

Evidently, STIs are still stigmatised and young people are not being given the tools to adequately look after their sexual health. As such, we echo the report’s calls for public health campaigns to tackle stigma and raise awareness.  

Access to testing is also severely hampered by the shortfall in sexual health funding.

Indeed, a report by the Local Government Association in 2022 showed that the public health grant to local councils used to fund sexual health services was reduced by over £1bn (24 per cent) between 2015/16 and 2020/21 and across England spending on STI testing, contraception and treatment decreased by almost 17% between 2015/16 and 2020/21, as local councils implemented these cuts. This lack of funding is resulting in long wait times for appointments alongside cuts and closures to sexual and reproductive health services. 
 
Much of the above could be addressed in a national sexual health strategy. The Government promised a sexual health strategy in 2019 but this has not been delivered. We have seen the effectiveness of an HIV strategy with clear goals and strong investment but don’t currently have anything equivalent for sexual and reproductive health. We support the calls in the report for a national sexual health strategy. 
 
Brook welcomes the report from the Women and Equalities Committee. It highlights key areas of concern and practical recommendations for what needs to be done to improve sexual and reproductive health. We hope to see the Government take heed of the issues raised and create a clear plan to ensure better sexual and reproductive health outcomes for all.