A recent survey warns that a spike in sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) is expected this new year, driven by Londoners engaging in unprotected sex at Christmas parties and failing to communicate about their health status.
According to the survey of 2,000 UK workers, an estimated 26.2 million working adults will have unprotected sex during the Christmas party season, with around 12.9 million doing so outside of a relationship. This alarming statistic highlights the need for greater awareness and education on safe sex practices.
Dr Bani, Medical Director at Your Sexual Health, emphasizes that failing to practice safe sex leaves individuals vulnerable to a range of STDs, including Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea. The study also found that there is a lack of communication between sexual partners regarding their health status, suggesting that stigma around STDs still persists.
The survey revealed that 45% of people would not tell anyone if they had caught an STI, while over a quarter said they wouldn’t tell any previous sexual partners at all. This lack of openness can lead to many unaware that they have potentially caught an STD and require treatment.
To address this issue, Dr Bani stresses the importance of regular testing to catch infections early and reduce the risk of developing severe health problems. However, despite efforts to improve awareness, many Londoners face barriers to getting tested, including lack of understanding of the process, location concerns, and fear of results.
The survey also found that almost a quarter of working Brits would not get an STD test after sleeping with a co-worker without protection, highlighting the need for increased education on safe sex practices.
Source: https://www.londondaily.news/doctor-warns-of-std-boom-following-christmas-party-season-in-the-capital