Achi news desk-
It appears that there are quite a few people living with sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the Royal City and surrounding areas.
A report presented at the Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph health board meeting on Wednesday indicated that the number of sexually transmitted infections in the area had increased.
In particular, 766 cases of chlamydia were reported in 2023 compared to 670 in 2022. There were also 14 cases of non-infectious syphilis in 2023 compared to 11 in 2022.
Cases of HIV/AIDS have increased by two from 2022 to 10 in 2023.
The report also suggests that some sexually transmitted infections have decreased in recent years but the number of cases remains quite high. There were 117 cases of gonorrhea in 2023 compared to 122 the previous year, and 18 cases of infectious syphilis in 2023 down from 32 in 2022.
“What we’re seeing is a fraction of the overall picture,” said Dr. Matthew Tanenbaum, associate medical officer of health. “It’s not like we’re seeing this steady increase from year to year but we’re operating at a high level of these infections.”
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People between the ages of 15 and 29 are more likely to get chlamydia compared to older demographics, according to the report. He also says that the vast majority of those living in the area with syphilis are men.
Tanenbaum doesn’t believe that cities with universities or post-secondary institutions like Guelph or Waterloo see higher STI cases than those without one. But he said it is no coincidence that more cases of sexually transmitted infections are being reported since the COVID-19 restrictions were lifted.
“We know that during the most intense periods of the COVID-19 pandemic, when we had social distancing, restrictions on gatherings, and very different norms around person-to-person interaction, we saw many of these diseases decrease from regarding their rates.”
Some of the symptoms of sexually transmitted infections include a burning sensation when passing water, discharge from the genital area, pain in the pelvic area in women, and itching in the genitals of men.
Tanenbaum said the best way to find out if you have an STI is to get tested. He said that although there is a high incidence of STIs, there are more who have the disease but do not show any symptoms.
“They only find out when they go in to see their GP or sexual health clinic, and they do a screening test,” he said. “It’s common for people who have no symptoms at all to find out they have these infections and get treatment for them. But it is also worrying because it means they have the infection and could pass it on to others. “
One of the most common ways in which sexually transmitted infections are transmitted is through unprotected sexual contact, whether same or opposite sex, and having multiple partners within the last six months. Some sexually transmitted infections such as syphilis can also be passed on through pregnancy.
“Consider things like condoms, talk to your partner about their sexual history, and reducing the number of sexual partners reduces the occasions you have to be exposed to them,” says Tanenbaum.
The health unit reopened their sexual health clinics last year and are available by appointment at 1-800-265-7293 ext. 7006.
& copy 2024 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
