Geelong spike in syphilis gonorrhea cases sexually transmitted infection recorded in women
Clap capital: how one particular Aussie region has seen a huge increase in sexually transmitted diseases
- Cases of syphilis and gonorrhea are on the rise in Geelong
- This can lead to complications at birth
- Vic gov launches program to fight gulf
Rising cases of sexually transmitted diseases are worrying doctors in Geelong, with fears the surge will lead to adverse pregnancy outcomes.
Cases of syphilis and gonorrhea are returning to pre-pandemic levels in the Victorian region, especially in women of childbearing age.
According to data from the Kirby Institute, there were 88 cases of syphilis in the area in 2022, a rate of 19 per 100,000.
This was a significant increase from the 12.7 registered cases per 100,000 in 2019.
There were also 224 cases of gonorrhea recorded in 2022, at a rate of 48.3 per 100,000 people, quickly closing the gap with 2019’s rate of 55.7 cases per 100,000.
Cases of syphilis and gonorrhea return to pre-pandemic levels in Geelong region, especially in women of childbearing age (stock image)
Dr. Sarah Huffan, an infectious disease specialist at Barwon Health, assured the community that STDs can be prevented by regular condom testing.
“It’s important to protect yourself and others from STIs by using condoms consistently, getting medical help early if there are any genital symptoms and by testing regularly for asymptomatic STIs for those at high risk,” Dr Hufffan told the Geelong. Advertiser.
“If an STI is diagnosed, it is important to inform sexual contacts so that they can be tested and treated quickly.”
Starting this week, STI tests will be provided by the Anglesea Medical Centre, which has partnered with the Victorian Sexual Health Network (VSHN) to help people manage their symptoms.
The partnership aims to increase the availability of sexual health services in Geelong and will be led by the Melbourne Sexual Health Centre.
STDs can be prevented by using condoms and people with symptoms should get tested regularly
According to Anglesea doctor Lucy Dobson, asymptomatic testing and contact tracing will be important parts of the campaign.
Helping patients spot potential infections they may not be aware of will help them recover from the rising numbers of STIs in counties around Geelong.
A website has been launched to help people track their symptoms and the urgency that they need to seek treatment VSHN.