CUTBACKS to sexual health services amid the coronavirus pandemic could cause a surge in STI cases in the UK, doctors are warning.
STI clinics and cervical screenings have been put on hold across the country due to staff being deployed to other parts of hospitals to help with the Covid-19 outbreak.
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However, experts are now warning that the NHS will have to deal with "a massive STI problem" once the pandemic is over.
And they say sexual health services have been “rolled back” by decades amid coronavirus upheaval.
Dr Sarah Jarvis, GP and Clinical Director of Patientaccess.com,told The Sun Online: "For men and women who are infected, there is no doubt that services have been reduced.
"It is easier to get treatment in some parts of the country than others. This could lead to delays which can cause serious health problems, especially for conditions like chlamydia."
There is no doubt that services have been reduced
Tracey Forsyth, lead contraceptive nurse at British Pregnancy Advisory Service, also revealed that women are routinely telling her they are struggling to access sexual health services.
She told The Independent: "It is very difficult to access contraception, sexual health and have smears at the moment. There were lots of cuts to services before this.
"We have rolled the clock back with sexual health by decades due to coronavirus and cuts."
Ms Forsyth added: "Places are worrying we will have a massive STI problem at the end of Covid-19."
What are the most common STIs – and what are the symptoms?
1. Chlamydia
Chlamydia is the most common STI in the UK – and is easily passed on during unprotected sex.
Most people don't experience any symptoms, and don't realise they are infected.
Symptoms can include pain or a burning sensation during sex, and an unusual discharge.
Women might also experience pain in the lower abdomen during or after sex, and bleeding after sex.
In men, chlamydia can also cause a pain or tenderness in the testicles.
2. HPV
Human papilloma virus (HPV), which causes genital warts, is the second most common STI here in Britain.
The warts are usually painful, but may be itchy or red. Occasionally, they cause bleeding.
HPV is spread by skin-to-skin contact, so you can catch it even if you haven't had penetrative sex – and condoms DON'T provide complete protection.
3. Gonorrhoea
Gonorrhoea is a bacterial STI – which often has no symptoms.
Symptoms include pain or a burning sensation during sex, and an unusual discharge.
Less common symptoms in women include pain in the lower gut and bleeding between periods or after sex.
In men, gonorrhoea can cause swelling in the foreskin and, in rare cases, pain in the testicles.
4. Herpes
Genital herpes in a common infection caused by HSV virus, which also causes cold sores.
The symptoms can develop a few days after contact and include small, painful blisters which itch or tingle – and can make it difficult to urinate.
5. Syphillis
Syphilis is bacterial infection which causes painless – but highly infectious – sores on the genitals and around the mouth.
Symptoms for the second stage of syphilis include a rash, flu-like illness and patchy hair loss – which will last for a few weeks.
In the third stage, which occurs after several years, people with syphilis may experience heart problems, paralysis and blindness.
Ms Forsyth, whose contraceptive team speaks to around 400 women a week via the phone, said disruption to STI treatment is a problem for both men and women and was a “timely public health issue”.
People who have chlamydia and gonorrhoea, and the people they have had sex with, need to be treated, she added.
And Ms Forsyth warned that the cuts to sexual health services could have an even more detrimental effect on women's health – with chlamydia having a longer-term risk of pelvic inflammatory disease, which can cause infertility.
On top of this, women are concerned about not being able to get smear tests, which help to pick up early signs of cell changes in the cervix that can turn into cancer.
Kate Sanger, the spokesperson for charity Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust, said the guidance from NHS England is to try to continue providing cervical screenings.
'Provision is patchy'
"But we know in some parts of the country, they have stopped sending out invitations for screenings or postponed them for the foreseeable future," she added.
"Provision is patchy. While there are some women who will want to go, some won’t be able to go because they are self-isolating."
Sexual health charities urged the Government to tackle the rising number of STIs in the UK ahead of the coronavirus outbreak.
A report by the Terrence Higgins Trust and British Association for Sexual Health & HIV (BASHH) released in February drew attention to the “unacceptably high” STI rates with a diagnosis every 70 seconds on average.
In 2018, there were 447,694 new diagnoses of STIs, which is an increase of five per cent from the year before.
Despite this, Dr John McSorley, BASHH President, says they have seen a reduction in sexually transmitted infections diagnosed in clinics in the past month during lockdown.
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He told The Sun Online: "The overwhelming majority of the UK population have done everything they can to save lives and protect the NHS by staying at home.
"We have seen a reduction in sexually transmitted infections diagnosed in clinics in the past month, and although some of this may be due to inability to test, it probably reflects less new infections.
"The last month or so has not been normal. As any lockdown is relaxed, we fully expect the UK populations sexual behaviour to return to normal.
"The slower the relaxation in lockdown restrictions, the slower this return to normal will be.
"It is true, the UK entered into lockdown against a backdrop of some of the highest numbers of some sexually transmitted infections especially for gonorrhoea and syphilis. Cases of syphilis are at levels not seen since World War Two.
It is important the Government supports ongoing access to sexual health services for everyone in the UK as we inch back towards normality
"It is important that the Government fully supports ongoing open access to excellent sexual health services for everyone in the UK as we inch our way back towards normality.
"A happy healthy and fulfilling sex life is a really important cheap and cheerful way of putting a smile back on everyone’s face as summer approaches."
If you think you may have an STI, the most important thing is to get tested and get medical advice quickly so you can start treatment.
Doctors say you should call your GP or sexual health clinic – or the NHS says self-test kits for STIs are available online.
If you're buying a self-test kit online, it's important to be wary of the claims they make, as they may be misleading.
Before using one, make sure the kit is sealed, without any damage to the packaging, and is within its expiry date.
Check that the instructions for use are clear and easy to follow.
You should also make sure it has a CE quality assurance mark – this means that, provided you use it correctly, the kit will work properly and is safe.
If you think you need to see a doctor in an emergency, A&E departments are still open, and doctors are urging people not to avoid seeking help in an emergency due to coronavirus fears.
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