BASHH Statement – UKHSA Annual STI Data
02 June 2026
(Last updated: 2 Jun 2026 13:09)
New STI data reinforces need for an ambitious Sexual Health Framework fit for the future
New annual data on sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in England, published today by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), highlight positive steps to reduce rates of infection while also illustrating a complex and evolving sexual health landscape.
While reductions in some infections are encouraging, overall STI levels remain high by historical standards, and emerging challenges — including rising syphilis in women, antimicrobial resistance, and persistent inequalities — underline the need for sustained and coordinated action.
The latest figures show that overall STI diagnoses have decreased by 8.3%. This decline is largely driven by reductions in some of the most commonly diagnosed infections, including gonorrhoea (down 11%) and chlamydia (down 10%), and rates of syphilis have also decreased, which is encouraging.
However, there are continued areas of concern. While overall gonorrhoea diagnoses have declined, cases of ceftriaxone-resistant gonorrhoea are increasing, with 29 cases reported in 2025 – more than double the number of cases reported in 2024.
Persistent inequalities also remain a defining feature of the sexual health landscape, with the highest burden of infection continuing to fall disproportionately on young people, gay and bisexual men, and some minority ethnic groups.
In response to today’s figures, BASHH has emphasised the importance of the Government’s forthcoming Sexual Health Framework for England.
Commenting on UKHSA’s data publication, Dr Cara Saxon, BASHH President, said:
“Behind these trends is a sexual health system being asked to respond to increasing complexity – from shifting patterns of infection to the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance and disparities in outcomes and progress between different groups.
We have more tools than ever to prevent STI transmission, including vaccines, HIV PrEP and doxyPEP to prevent syphilis. The challenge now is not just innovation, but implementation – ensuring services have the capacity, clarity and resource to deliver these interventions safely, appropriately, and at scale. For example, the rollout of doxyPEP raises important questions around the practical reality of introducing new measures into already stretched services without dedicated funding. The system needs to be more responsive and agile to enable all services to maximise the potential of these new innovations, fast. We also need to be able to hold the system to account when we see deep inequity of access.
Rising rates of syphilis amongst women who have sex with men, against a backdrop of overall decreasing rates, is another real concern. There is a gap in evidence around effective preventive interventions for women and syphilis that needs to be urgently addressed. We also need to consider targeted health promotion and support that reaches women in disproportionately affected groups.
The forthcoming Sexual Health Framework must provide a clear, coordinated approach that enables services to meet both current demand and future challenges.”
[ENDS]
About BASHH
The British Association for Sexual Health and HIV (BASHH) is the lead professional representative body for sexual health professionals in Genito-Urinary Medicine (GUM) managing sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV in the UK. It has a prime role in education and training, in determining, monitoring and maintaining standards of governance in sexual health and HIV care. BASHH also works to further the advancement of public health in relation to STIs, HIV and other sexual health problems and acts as a champion in promoting good sexual health and providing education to the public. More information can be found here: https://www.bashh.org/
The full UKSHA data is available to view here.
For BASHH media requests, please contact Sean Walker at bashh@mandfhealth.com.