In recent years, a troubling trend has emerged across Europe, with a marked increase in gonorrhea cases among young women. This surge, observed in 15 European countries during 2022 and 2023, contrasts with a less significant rise in cases among young men.
Gonorrhea is a bacterial infection transmitted through sexual contact, affecting the genitals, rectum, and throat. It predominantly impacts individuals aged 15 to 24. The infection can also be passed from an infected mother to her child during childbirth, posing additional health risks.
The European Center for Disease Control and Prevention (ECDC) noted an uptick in gonorrhea cases among young people in early 2022, particularly in four EU and EEA countries. This increase surpassed pre-pandemic levels by the latter half of 2022, raising alarms among health officials.
In response, the ECDC requested preliminary data from countries on diagnosed cases for the first half of 2023. Seventeen countries participated, with 15 providing consistent data from 2015 to 2019 and in 2022-2023. This information was crucial for estimating prevalence among women and differentiating transmission modes among men.
Key Findings
The study revealed a significant rise in gonorrhea cases among women aged 20 to 24 starting mid-2022. A smaller increase was noted in women aged 15 to 19 and 25 to 29. Among men, those with heterosexual transmission experienced a similar trend, while a gradual increase was observed in men with homosexual transmission since 2015, except for those aged 15 to 19.
For women aged 20 to 24, gonorrhea cases exceeded expected prevalence by 73% in the latter half of 2022 and 89% in the first half of 2023. The exceedances were less pronounced in younger and older women. Among men with heterosexual transmission, the highest exceedance was 36% in early 2023, though these were generally smaller than those seen in women.
Country-Level Insights
Analysis indicated over 100% exceedances in countries such as Denmark, Iceland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, and Slovenia during the specified periods. Spain reported exceedances of 116% in 2022 and 98% in 2023. In contrast, Finland, Italy, and Sweden experienced smaller increases, while Estonia, Hungary, and Latvia reported no exceedances.
Implications and Recommendations
The study underscores a worrying rise in gonorrhea cases among young women in several EU/EEA countries. Although 2023 data is preliminary, the increase poses significant public health concerns. Untreated gonorrhea can lead to severe complications, including pelvic inflammatory disease, chronic pain, and infertility.
Experts suggest that changes in sexual behavior, such as the number of partners, types of sexual practices, and condom use, may contribute to the rise. Additionally, certain strains of Neisseria gonorrhea might cause mild symptoms, complicating timely diagnosis and increasing transmission.
The findings highlight the urgent need for increased awareness among young people about sexually transmitted infections. Public health campaigns should focus on promoting safe sexual practices and the importance of regular testing to curb the spread of gonorrhea.