Health experts are urging individuals to get tested regularly as sexually transmitted infections (STIs) surge across Europe, often going undetected or misdiagnosed. According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), gonorrhoea cases have soared by over 300% since 2015, and syphilis cases have more than doubled. In England alone, 2024 saw more than 71,000 gonorrhoea and 9,500 syphilis diagnoses.
A London woman in her twenties shared her two-year struggle with misdiagnosis before finally being diagnosed with syphilis. Experiencing symptoms such as hair loss, severe brain fog, and personality changes, she was initially treated for conditions like alopecia and autoimmune diseases. “I thought syphilis was a Victorian disease, not something I’d face today. Thankfully, treatment was simple, but those two years caused immense stress and uncertainty,” she revealed.
Valentina Milanova, CEO and founder of Daye, criticized the current approach to STI testing. “Testing is often reactive, done only after obvious symptoms appear, even though many STIs can be asymptomatic and still cause long-term harm. Delays can lead to complications affecting fertility and overall reproductive health,” she explained. Milanova stressed that sexual health should be treated with the same routine care as any other health aspect, emphasizing prevention and accessibility.
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Experts also highlight the urgent need for awareness around lesser-known infections like trichomoniasis, one of the most common non-viral STIs globally, which remains widely underdiagnosed. While predominantly transmitted sexually, there are rare cases linked to contaminated environments such as poorly maintained hot tubs and shared bathing facilities. Milanova noted, “We have supported patients with infections despite no history of penetrative sex, underscoring the need for nuanced public health education.”
The ongoing rise in STIs exposes how challenging, stigmatized, and reactive current testing practices remain. Experts call for normalizing routine screenings much like regular dental check-ups to better detect infections early and prevent long-term health issues.