WHO has today launched new treatment guidelines to help address this issue. Based on the latest available evidence, the guidelines share new recommendations on the most effective treatments for these curable sexually transmitted infections.
It is estimated that, each year, 131 million people are infected with chlamydia, 78 million with gonorrhoea, and 5.6 million with syphilis. Infection with STIs can have a significant and negative impact upon a person’s overall health and well-being. People infected with an STI may be at risk of stigma and abuse, in addition to further psycho-social consequences, such as a negative effect upon personal relationships.
In addition, when left undiagnosed and untreated, curable STIs can result in serious complications and long-term health problems. For women this can include pelvic inflammatory disease, ectopic pregnancy and miscarriage. Untreated gonorrhoea and chlamydia can cause infertility in both men and women. If a woman has an untreated STI while pregnant, this can infect the baby, and may result in stillbirth or newborn death. Infection with chlamydia, gonorrhoea and syphilis can also increase a person’s risk of being infected with HIV by two to three times
Chlamydia is the most common bacterial STI and people with this infection are frequently co-infected with gonorrhoea. Symptoms of chlamydia include discharge and a burning feeling when urinating, but most people who are infected have no symptoms. Even when chlamydia is asymptomatic, it can damage the reproductive system.
WHO is calling on countries to start using the updated guidelines immediately, as recommended in the Global Health Sector Strategy for STIs (2016-2021) endorsed by governments at the World Health Assembly in May 2016. The new guidelines are also in line with the Global Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance, adopted by governments at the World Health Assembly in May 2015.
When used correctly and consistently, condoms are one of the most effective methods of protection against STIs.
