The number of newly diagnosed sexually transmitted infections in Portsmouth has dropped significantly.
New data from the UK Health Security Agency shows an 18% decrease between 2023 and 2024, marking the lowest STI rates ever recorded in the city.
Portsmouth has seen its lowest on record rates of STIs (not including chlamydia in under 25s), which are now below the national average.
Cllr Matthew Winnington, Cabinet Member for Community Wellbeing, Health and Care at Portsmouth City Council, said: “This encouraging drop in STI rates reflects the strength of our sexual health support in Portsmouth, which includes free, convenient and confidential testing and easy access to contraception.”
Many people do not show symptoms of STIs which means people often pass them on without realising it. The use of condoms to reduce the risk of transmission is therefore recommended, as well as regular testing, particularly when changing sexual partners.
The latest figures do show that chlamydia rates are on the rise in Portsmouth. There is also a high proportion of HIV late diagnosis; 56.5% of HIV diagnoses were made at a late stage of infection from 2021-2023 in the city, compared to an England average of 43.5%. Late diagnosis means the virus has had more time to weaken the immune system.
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