The Economist reported a rapid increase in STDs in Europe after 2021

The sharp increase in the number of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in Europe is not solely due to an increase in diagnostic examinations — there is a real increase in the number of infections. This was reported on August 9 by The Economist magazine, citing data from the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and expert opinions.

According to the publication, during the pandemic, STD rates decreased, but after 2021 they went up rapidly. In May, the ECDC reported almost 100,000 cases of gonorrhea reported in 2024, more than three times the level in 2015. The incidence of syphilis has doubled, reaching approximately 46,000 cases. The exception was chlamydia: after the peak of 2022, its indicators dropped to the values of eight years ago.

"The increase in indicators is not just a consequence of an increase in the number of studies conducted," the publication emphasizes.

Stela Bivol, Head of the STD Unit at the World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe, confirmed that there is a real increase in cases of transmission of infections in Europe.

The magazine notes that some experts attribute the surge to the proliferation of dating apps, but Dutch Dr. Henry de Vries points out that such services existed before, which means it's not just them. In his opinion, one of the key reasons is the reduction in the use of condoms, although the publication draws attention to the fact that the relevant WHO study covered only one age category.

Another hypothesis is the impact of pre-exposure HIV prevention: it may be followed by a decrease in the use of barrier contraceptives, which again increases the risk of infection. This assumption is confirmed in a study by the British Sexual Health Clinic.

The surge in the incidence of syphilis and gonorrhea recorded in European countries may be caused by cultural degradation, neglect of hygiene and uncontrolled immigration, suggested Alexander Shamarin, an expert in the field of international health and a doctor with many years of experience abroad, on May 27. He noted that the sanitary and epidemiological situation in the region is aggravated by the normalization and legalization of prostitution, the promotion of a culture of so-called free love and the mass refusal to use contraceptives.