In the first half of 2023, there were almost 6,700 cases of gonorrhea. That is 15 percent more than in the previous six months. It is striking that the increase is greatest among women: for them there are 38 percent additional cases.
This worries experts, because while men often experience symptoms of gonorrhea – such as a burning sensation when urinating and having to go to the toilet often – this is much less the case with women. They may experience abnormal discharge, interim bleeding or a burning sensation, but the majority don’t feel anything at all, says Henry de Vries, dermatologist at GGD Amsterdam and Amsterdam UMC. “That is dangerous, because gonorrhea can lead to infertility in the long term. And that can happen unnoticed in women.”
What is gonorrhea?
Gonorrhea is a bacterial infection that is transmitted through sexual contact. The bacteria can cause infections of the urethra, rectum, throat and epididymis in men. Women can experience infections of the urethra, cervix, fallopian tubes, throat and rectum.
Gonorrhea previously mainly occurred among gay and bisexual men. “But since last year we have seen a doubling in other groups, such as heterosexual people and young people under the age of 25,” says De Vries.
explanations
The corona pandemic could be an explanation. “Fewer people were able to find care then. All attention went to fighting Covid,” says the dermatologist.
But it could also be due to a change in behavior that occurred after the pandemic. “It may be a result of the catch-up that young people have made in terms of sexual activity, after all those years of being stuck indoors.” The increase coincides with the increasing number of scabies infections among young people.
Education
According to Erwin Fisser, campaign leader at Soa Aids Netherlands, there is not enough warning anymore. “There have been no national campaigns about gonorrhea since 2011, and that is reflected,” he tells Editie NL. “Now we have an entire generation that has not received any information.”
According to him, it is time for a new campaign. “Not to point fingers, but to help young people with their choice,” says Fisser. According to him, this requires more than a TV commercial and online advertisement. “We also have to go to schools and take to the streets to get this message across. That is a very effective way to help young people make wise choices.”
To test
Dermatologist De Vries advises young people to use a condom and to be tested after unsafe sex. “For women, this is sometimes the only way to discover whether you have gonorrhea, because they do not always have complaints. If you have had multiple sexual partners in a short time, that can certainly be a reason to have yourself checked.”
2023-11-24 13:00:11
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