STIs in the Netherlands: increase in gonorrhoea, syphilis and chlamydia diagnoses at STI clinics

The number of gonorrhoea, syphilis and chlamydia diagnoses at sexually transmitted infections (STI) clinics in the Netherlands has increased by 5% compared with 2015. According to the 2016 STI annual report published today by the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), the majority of gonorrhoea and syphilis cases were found in men who have sex with men (MSM). In women and heterosexual men, the most common STI was chlamydia.  HIV diagnoses, on the other hand, remained stable at 285 new diagnoses in 2016, compared to 288 in 2015. Ninety-three percent of the HIV diagnoses at the sexual health centres were made in MSM. The increase in STI diagnoses at sexual health centres is thought to reflect an increase in the rate of testing among people from high-risk groups.

Click here to read the full report