Europe Faces STI Crisis as Gonorrhea and Syphilis Cases Surge 303% Since 2015
Europe is facing a growing sexual health emergency after newly released figures revealed a dramatic rise in gonorrhea and syphilis infections across the continent.
Europe records alarming spikes in gonorrhea and syphilis cases as health officials warn of a growing STI crisis.
According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), sexually transmitted infections have climbed to levels not seen in more than a decade, with gonorrhea and syphilis cases increasing sharply since 2015.
Corona Borealis/stock.adobe.com
The latest data show gonorrhea infections across Europe surged by 303%, reaching 106,331 reported cases. During the same period, syphilis cases more than doubled, exceeding 45,550 infections.
Spain emerged as the continent’s hardest-hit country, recording 37,169 gonorrhea cases and 11,556 syphilis infections in 2024, according to the BBC.
Health officials also expressed concern over the rise in congenital syphilis, a condition in which the infection is passed from pregnant mothers to newborn babies. Cases nearly doubled in participating European countries between 2023 and 2024.
The ECDC attributed the worsening outbreak to “widening gaps” in testing and declining condom use.
“These infections can cause severe complications, such as chronic pain and infertility and, in the case of syphilis, problems with the heart or nervous system,” said Bruno Ciancio, the head of the ECDC’s directly transmitted and vaccine-preventable diseases section.
“Protecting your sexual health remains straightforward. Use condoms with new or multiple partners, and get tested if you have symptoms, such as pain, discharge or an ulcer.”
Experts noted that men who have sex with men continue to be disproportionately affected by the spread of sexually transmitted infections. However, heterosexual women of childbearing age are also experiencing a significant increase in cases.
The UK responded to the growing health crisis by introducing what was described as a world-first vaccine in 2025 after British authorities reported a record 85,000 gonorrhea cases in 2023.
Medical experts warn that gonorrhea symptoms can include pain, unusual discharge and inflammation of the genitals, although some infected individuals may show no symptoms at all. Syphilis symptoms may involve sores on the genitals or mouth, hand rashes, hair loss and flu-like illness.
Officials emphasized that most STI transmission can be prevented through protection and antibiotic treatment.
