England’s STI hotspots – map reveals where you’re most likely to catch everything from syphilis to genital warts

THE worst areas for each STI have been revealed in a map of England’s sexual disease hotspots.

The places you’re most likely to catch an STI based on the number of diagnoses per 100,000 people have been highlighted in a new study.

It comes after instances of both gonorrhoea and syphilis have skyrocketed in recent years while demand for sexual health services is surging.

Shocking NHS figures suggest cases of gonorrhoea, once known as ‘the clap’, are at a record high with 82,592 recorded in England in 2022, compared to around 55,0000 in 2021 and 31,000 in 2013.

And syphilis infections were at their highest level in 75 years in 2022 – with 8,700 cases recorded in England.

The same data showed chlamydia was also on the rise, with 24 per cent more cases recorded in 2022 than in the year before.

Analysis by Supplement Place shows which areas come out top for every sexually transmitted infection (STI), with the most diagnoses per population size.

It reveals where Brits are most sloppy when it comes to protection during sex, with condoms the main way to prevent STIs. 

Or, it may represent areas with more thorough sexual health testing.

If you’re worried you’ve got an STI, go for a free check-up at a sexual health clinic as soon as you can.

Chlamydia 

Symptoms:

• Pain when peeing
• Unusual discharge from the vagina, penis or bottom
• In women, pain in the tummy, bleeding after sex and bleeding between periods
• In men, pain and swelling in the testicles

Chlamydia is by far the most common STI in England, accounting for just over half of all infections with more than 199,000 diagnoses in 2022.

Lincoln, in the West Midlands, is where you were most likley to catch the disease in 2022, with 1,608 in every 100,00 people carrying it.

If left untreated, chlamydia can cause permanent damage to a woman’s reproductive system, making it hard to get pregnant later on.

Gonorrhoea

Symptoms:

• Thick green or yellow discharge from the vagina or penis
• Pain when peeing
• Bleeding between periods.

Gonorrhoea is Britain’s second most common STI, with 82,592 cases recorded in 2022.

Around one in 10 infected men and almost half of infected women do not experience any symptoms.

Lambeth, in London, is England’s gonorrhoea capital, with 3,875 people diagnosed in 2022, a rate of 1,220 per 100,000.

The highest rate of diagnoses outside of the big smoke was found in Liverpool, where there were 1,608 per 100,000 people.

If treated early with antibiotics, gonorrhoea is unlikely to lead to any complications or long-term problems.

But if left untreated, it can – much like chlamydia – lead to fertility issues.

Mycoplasma genitalium

Symptoms:

• Pain when peeing
• Unusual vaginal discharge
• Pain in the tummy or pelvis
• Pain during sex
• Bleeding after sex
• Painful bleeding between periods
• Discomfort or discharge from your bum – if you have had anal sex

Mycoplasma genitalium (MG) is a little know STI with similar syptoms to chlamydia.

Just 7,000 people were diganosed in 2022, making it much rarer than most of the diseases on the list.

Despite being quite uncommon, MG is resistant to lots of medicines, making it much harder to treat.

It can also lead to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) in women and, ultimately, infertility.

Hammersmith and Fulham, in London, takes the top spot for cases in the country, with 90.02 diagnoses per 100,000 people.

Liverpool saw the highest rate of mycoplasma genitalium diagnoses outside of London, with a rate of 53.

Trichomoniasis

Symptoms in women:

• Abnormal vaginal discharge that may be thick, thin or frothy and yellow-green in colour
• Producing more discharge than normal, which may also have an unpleasant fishy smell
• Soreness, swelling and itching around the vagina – sometimes the inner thighs also become itchy
• Pain or discomfort when passing urine or having sex

Symptoms in men:

• Pain when peeing or during ejaculation
• Needing to pee more frequently than usual
• Thin, white discharge from the penis
• Soreness, swelling and redness around the head of the penis or foreskin

Trichomoniasis is more common than gonorrhoea, yet, barely anyone knows about it.

It’s not always included in standard STI “check ups” at sexual health clinics or at-home kits.

Croydon, a large town in south London, was the trichomoniasis epicentre in 2022, with 109.09 people affected per 100,000 people.

Sandwell, which sits closely next to Birmingham, won the same label among the areas outside of London, with a rate of 80.

Complications of trichomoniasis are rare, though some women with the infection may be at an increased risk of further problems.

If you’re infected with trichomoniasis while you’re pregnant, the infection may cause your baby to be born prematurely or have a low birthweight.

Genital herpes

Symptoms:

• Blisters or ulcers on the one or several of the following places: thighs, buttocks, vagina, vulva, penis, scrotum and anus

Most cases of genital herpes are caused by Herpes 2 (HSV-2), while HSV-1 causes cold sores.

Both types of herpes can go through periods of being dormant, during which time they can still be spread, before causing a recurrence.

It can’t be cured, but medication can stop the symptoms of an outbreak from worsening.

Some 24,910 new cases were reported in 2022.

Southwark, in London, stole the top spot as the town most riddled with the disease – with 149 people diagnosed per 100,000.

Exeter is the region outside of London with the most cases of herpes with 88 people diagnosed per 100,000.

The disease can be transferred to other parts of the body such as the eyes.

And it can be fatal to babies, who can catch HSV-2 during childbirth or HSV-1 from a kiss.

HIV

Symptoms:

• Raised temperature (fever)
• Sore throat
• Body rash
• Tiredness
• Joint pain
• Muscle pain
• Swollen glands

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) can weaken the immune system if left untreated.

There is no cure, but people can take medication to manage the disease which means they can live a long and healthy life.

There are more than 100,000 people living with the disease in the UK – while an estimated 35 million people are HIV positive worldwide. 

HIV was the least common STI diagnosed in 2022 – with just 3,805 new cases recorded.

The city of Westminster saw the most new cases in the country, with a rate of 53 in every 100,000.

Cambridge saw the highest rates outside of London, with 20 new cases recorded per 100,000 people.

Genital warts

Symptoms:

• Small, rough lumps that can appear around the vagina, penis or anus

Most people know what genital warts are. But if you don’t, the name gives it away.

The small growths emerge when someone has been exposed to a virus called human papilloma virus (HPV).

Certain strains of the disease have been linked to genital, cervical, head, neck, throat and mouth cancer.

Some 24,910 people were diagnosed with the disease in 2022.

Yet again, Hammersmith and Fulham won top spot, with figures showing 151 new cases per 100,000 residents.

The seaside towns of Brighton and Hove trumped all other places beyond London, with a rate of 82.

Syphillis

Symptoms:

• Small sores on the penis, vagina, or bottom, mouth lips, hands or bottom 
• A rash on the palms of hands and soles of feet 
• White patches in mouth
• Flu-like symptoms, such as a high temperature, headaches and tiredness
• Swollen glands
• Patchy hair loss on your head, beard and eyebrows

Syphillis is an STI often confined to the history books, but cases of the nasty disease are rising.

Data shows 8,962 diagnoses of the disease were reported across the country.

Lambeth in London takes the national top spot for syphilis diagnoses, with 143 diagnoses recorded per 100,000 people in 2022.

Cropping up again, Brighton and Hove win first place outside of London, having reported a rate of 53.

Without treatment, an infection can last for years or decades without causing any symptoms.

The danger is it can spread to other parts of the body, such as the brain. 

This can lead to vision problems, meningitis and strokes.