In the first half of this year more STIs were found in people who have been tested at Dutch STI clinics. The increase pertains to all STIs, with the exception of HIV. This is shown in the RIVM Thermometer Sexual Health 2016.
In the first half of 2016, more than 66,000 people have been tested at the Dutch STI clinics. This is similar to the number of people tested in the same period last year. However, the percentage of people actually diagnosed with an STI increased from 16.7% in 2015 to 18.2% in 2016.
The increase pertains to all STIs. Diagnoses of the most common STI - chlamydia - have increased by 6%. Chlamydia is most common in women and heterosexual men. The percentage of people who were diagnosed with a gonorrhoea infection increased by 12%. Only the percentage of positive HIV tests has - as in previous years - declined further.
Infectious syphilis
Remarkable is the increase of infectious syphilis: from 446 cases in the first half of 2015 to 629 cases in the first half of 2016. This STI occurs mainly in men who have sex with men (MSM). The increase in cases of infectious syphilis is a trend that is also seen in other European countries.
World AIDS Day 2016
Especially on December 1st World AIDS Day 2016 RIVM would like to raise awareness for HIV and other STIs.