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Life

21st Sep 2016

These STIs are quickly becoming resistant to antibiotics

Worrying news.

Cathy Donohue

Frightening stuff.

STIS including chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphillis are fast becoming resistant to the antibiotics normally used to treat them.

Earlier this year, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said that gonorrhea was no longer responding to the strain of antibiotic used to clear it and now, chlamydia and syphilis are also becoming resistant.

Although, gonorrhea has been identified as by far the STI with the strongest resistance, it is worrying that other STIs are following suit and a concerning pattern is emerging.

Spotted on Refinery 29, a statement released by the WHO in relation to the report reads:

“When left undiagnosed and untreated, these STIs can result in serious complications and long-term health problems for women, such as pelvic inflammatory disease, ectopic pregnancy, and miscarriage, and untreated gonorrhea and chlamydia can cause infertility in both men and women.

“Untreated gonorrhea, chlamydia, and syphilis can also leave people more susceptible to HIV”.

The reports also places major emphasis on the fact that condoms are the best way of preventing against STIs and should be used for all types of sex, including oral.

If you are worried that you might have contracted an STI, get yourself checked out immediately as this will help to prevent the infection from spreading.

If you’re concerned about any of the above, check out the HSE website here which includes a list of sexual health clinic/services all over Ireland.