Alarm over spike in STIs

SEXUALLY transmitted infection (STI) rates are ballooning on the Gold Coast, with cases of gonorrhoea skyrocketing by nearly 56 per cent in the past five years.

According to health data, since 2015 the rate of syphilis (infectious) has also risen – it’s up 37.6 per cent – while chlamydia cases have grown by 15.8 per cent.

Last year there were 802 cases of gonorrhoea compared to 354 cases in 2015, with 378 already recorded to June 21 this year.

Cases of syphilis grew from 73 in 2015 to 117 last year, with 46 cases already reported halfway through 2020.

Chlamydia is the third most common STI on the Gold Coast, with 2646 cases in 2015 compared to 3144 last year. So far this year there have been 1279 new cases.

Haan Health owner and GP Dr Sonu Haikerwal attributes, in part, the spike to a decrease in the number of Gold Coasters creating ongoing long-term client relationships with primary caregivers.

“How sad is that,” Dr Haikerwal said of the rise. “What really upsets me is the fragmentation of primary care, there’s a lack of people forming trusting relationships with their GPs.

“What drives risky behaviour is a range of issues, it’s mental health issues, it’s wanting to be seen and heard and it’s self-esteem issues.

“Not everything can be done Uber style, patients need eye contact, they need to be seen and heard, really taken care of by their doctor.

“It’s devastating because it's not just an infection like tonsillitis, it’s a lifelong thing for many people to take through their lives, often affecting their fertility and future health.”

Robina GP Dr Lisa Beechman said it was possible that changes to the cervical screening program, from two to five years, meant women weren’t seen for their first test until the age of 25, often years after becoming sexually active.

“These used to be every two years and we’d do other STI checks when doing pap smears, so now we’re not doing as much STI testing as we used to,” she said.

“Traditionally it was the younger population but really anyone can get an STI.”

A Gold Coast Health spokesperson said STIs could be present even without symptoms and “anyone who is having sex should be encouraged to get tested”.

“For chlamydia and gonorrhoea, these tests can be as simple as doing a urine test or a swab which you do yourself or getting a blood test for syphilis.”

Queensland Health is running a public health campaign ‘Stop the Rise’ targeting the youth population.

The Gold Coast Sexual Health Service in Southport offers free testing, no appointment necessary.