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Gonorrhea and syphilis, among other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), reach record levels in Europe.
This is what a study by the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) shows, which indicates that both diseases reached their highest figures in more than 10 years in 2024.
There were 106,331 cases of gonorrhea – an increase of 303% since 2015 – while syphilis more than doubled in the same period to reach 45,557 cases.
The health agency indicated that “growing gaps in testing and prevention” partly explain the increase in transmission and called for urgent measures.
“These infections can cause serious complications, such as chronic pain and infertility and, in the case of syphilis, heart or nervous system problems,” said Bruno Ciancio, director of the agency’s Directly Transmitted and Vaccine Preventable Diseases unit.
It added that cases of congenital syphilis — when the infection “passes directly to newborns, causing potentially lifelong complications” — nearly doubled between 2023 and 2024.
“Protecting sexual health remains simple. Use condoms with new or multiple partners and get tested if you have symptoms,” he added.
What the data says
Spain recorded the highest number of confirmed cases of gonorrhea and syphilis among participating European countries in 2024, with 37,169 and 11,556 cases respectively.
The ECDC noted that men who have sex with men remain by far the most affected group, with the largest long-term increases in gonorrhea and syphilis.
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It also reported significant increases in syphilis among heterosexual women of reproductive age.
Although chlamydia remained the most reported bacterial infection overall, cases decreased 6% from 2015 to 213,443.
The United Kingdom is not part of the study since the country left the European Union, although the government publishes its own figures for England each year.
According to a report by the UK Health Security Agency published in December, there were 71,802 cases of gonorrhea and 9,535 cases of syphilis in England in 2024.
In the same 12-month period, 168,889 cases of chlamydia were diagnosed.
The UK rolled out a gonorrhea vaccine in 2025 after cases hit a record 85,000 in 2023.
What are the symptoms
Symptoms of gonorrhea may include pain, unusual discharge, and swelling of the genitals, although in some cases no symptoms appear.
The disease can be prevented by using condoms correctly and getting the vaccine if available, according to the British public health system (NHS).
Symptoms of syphilis include sores around the genitals and mouth, rashes on the hands, hair loss, and flu-like symptoms.
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They are often difficult to detect at first and can come and go over time.
Like gonorrhea, it can be avoided by using condoms and treated with antibiotics.
Both can cause serious problems if left untreated.
Why STIs have increased in Europe
In its report, the ECDC attributes the sharp increase in cases of gonorrhea and syphilis in Europe to several social, health and epidemiological factors.
Firstly, it points out changes in sexual behaviors and transmission dynamics: a possible increase in the number of sexual partners, lower condom use and changes in social habits after the Covid-19 pandemic.
It also points to the role of dating apps and greater sexual connectivity, although it avoids establishing direct causal relationships.
At the same time, the agency recognizes that part of the increase can be explained by greater case detection.
He explains that in several countries diagnostic tests, screening programs and access to community testing have been expanded, allowing infections that could previously go unnoticed to be identified.
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However, the ECDC stresses that the observed growth – especially in gonorrhea and syphilis – is too pronounced and sustained to be attributed solely to better diagnoses.
The report also focuses on structural problems of prevention and health access, ensuring that many European countries continue to have economic and legal barriers to access STI testing.
In 13 countries, patients must pay for basic tests and others require parental consent for minors, something that could discourage early diagnosis among adolescents.
Added to this, according to the agency, is the unequal response of countries: not all have specific and updated national strategies on STIs, and some do not collect sufficient data on prevention, vaccination or condom use.
How to solve the problem
The European Center for Disease Prevention and Control warns in its report that the sustained increase in STIs in Europe may have important consequences for public health.
One of its main concerns is antimicrobial resistance, especially in gonorrhea.
The report explains that some strains of this disease are developing resistance to antibiotics, which could make future treatment difficult and increase the risk of transmission.
Given this situation, it proposes strengthening national strategies against STIs and updating existing plans.
It also recommends better coordinating European health systems, expanding access to diagnostic tests, removing economic and legal barriers to testing, and improving data collection, according to the report.
This also indicates as a priority to reinforce prevention campaigns for young people and vulnerable groups, with special emphasis on condom use, sexual education and early diagnosis.
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