Catalonia is Spain's territory with most cases of gonorrhea and chlamydia

Catalonia is Spain's territory with the highest number of cases of gonorrhea and chlamydia in 2023, according to the annual report on sexually transmitted infections (STIs) released by Carlos III Health Institute.

Last year, authorities reported 13,062 cases of gonorrhea, with a rate of 165.3 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, and 15,374 cases of chlamydia, with an incidence rate of 194,56 cases, two years ago, the figure was below 150.

Meanwhile, Catalonia is the fourth territory in the number of cases of syphilis, with 2,413 and an incidence rate of 30.54, behind the Canary Islands, Balearic Islands, and Madrid.

In 2016, Catalonia had 2,154 cases of gonorrhea, 3,428 of chlamydia, and 427 of syphilis. Many experts believe this surge is due to the lack of use of condoms.

Although the Catalan health department dispenses over two million condoms per year free of charge, in response to these new statistics, authorities aim to make condoms even more accessible to populations across Catalonia.

Some of the new approaches include doubling the amount of condom distribution machines it employs and looking to implement a more stringent sex education policy. The goal of the health department is to strategically curb STI incidence rates in the coming years. 

Overall, according to the report, infections keep rising in Spain, and between 2021 and 2023, the number of positives of gonorrhea increased by 42.6% and syphilis by 24.1%.

"A prompt diagnosis helps a lot, as opposed to a late diagnosis where the disease could be very spread," Anna Torre, psychologist of the Red Cross, said on Monday during an HIV-free testing pop-up site in the southern city of Reus.

HIV, one of the most deadly STIs, does not only affect the youngster population but everyone who is exposed to harmful behavior.

Preventing more STIs

The Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) drug introduced in Catalonia three years ago is a strategic preventive tool against HIV that has proven a useful in reducing the risk of infection, especially for individuals faced with higher chances of contraction.

The rising popularity of the STI self-test as being an effective method of detection that has helped to prevent the spread of STIs over time. With over 450,000 STI tests taken in Catalonia last year, self tests have allowed for a more convenient screening and have supplemented detection efforts over the last decade. 

Known as the Barcelona patient, a 75-year-old woman who has been able to control HIV for 15 years without antiretrovirals made headlines worldwide this summer when her case was presented at the 24th International AIDS Conference in Montreal, Canada.

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