Gonorrhoea’s Growing Resistance To Antibiotics: Are We Heading For A Sexual Health Crisis?
“Gonorrhoea is becoming increasingly resistant to antibiotics, risking the possibility of it becoming untreatable in the future.” – Dr Helen Fifer, UKHSA
According to a report in The Guardian, gonorrhea is getting harder to treat. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) reports that more cases are becoming resistant to antibiotics. This means the infection might become untreatable in the future.
Record-Breaking Gonorrhoea Cases in England
Last year, there were 85,000 gonorrhoea cases in England, the highest number since 1918. If not treated, gonorrhoea can cause serious health problems like pelvic inflammatory disease and infertility.
Between June 2022 and May 2024, 15 cases of gonorrhoea resistant to the antibiotic ceftriaxone were found in England. Five of these cases were super-strong and needed hospital treatment with powerful drugs to stop the infection from spreading.
Most of the people affected were young heterosexuals, and some got the infection while traveling. However, the UKHSA says the resistant strain is also spreading within England.
Protecting Yourself
Experts in the UK have stressed the importance of using condoms and getting regular STI tests, especially for those having sex with new or casual partners.
The British Association for Sexual Health and HIV (BASHH) is calling for quick action and a strong sexual health plan for England to tackle the rise in antibiotic-resistant STIs.
Even though most cases so far have been among heterosexuals, there is a risk for the LGBTQIA+ community. Many gay and bisexual men have stopped using condoms due to the use of PrEP and HIV drugs in Western countries. If this new resistant strain spreads, it could become a sexual health challenge among men who have sex with men.
