Sexually Transmitted Infections Surge in Ireland, Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, and Genital Herpes Most Prevalent
Recent figures reveal a significant spike in sexually transmitted infections (STIs) across Ireland in the past year, with six out of ten infections showing increases compared to 2022. Data from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) highlights chlamydia, gonorrhea, and genital herpes as the three most prevalent infections, contributing to a total of 22,730 recorded infections—a 29% rise from the previous year.
Chlamydia cases have increased by 24.2% year-on-year, reaching 12,749 cases.
Gonorrhea cases have surged by 67.9%, totaling 6,440 cases compared to 2022 figures.
Genital herpes cases have risen by 4.7%, with 1,615 cases recorded.
Other notable increases involve lymphogranuloma venereum (up 30.77% year-on-year) and syphilis (up 8.08% year-on-year). HIV notifications have also risen by 9%, reaching 888 cases compared to the previous year.
Encouragingly, the data indicates a significant decline in monkeypox (Mpox) cases, dropping by 93% year-on-year, with only 15 cases reported in the first 50 weeks of the year compared to a peak of 226 in 2022.
Regionally, HSE East, covering Dublin, Kildare, and Wicklow, recorded the highest number of infections (12,569), while Cork and Kerry reported 2,432 STIs in 2023. The 20–24 age group is the most affected, constituting a third of all cases (7,569), followed by those aged 15–19 with 2,161 cases. The gender breakdown shows that more men (13,403) have contracted STIs than women (9,299). The report underscores the urgency of addressing the rising trend of STIs and implementing effective preventive measures.
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