The use of a condom is essential to protect yourself and your partners against STDs. If you have any concerns, you should have a screening test. In the event of an infection, follow the treatment correctly and inform your sexual partner/partners.
STDs in Belgium
According to Sciensano (STD Report 2013):
- Chlamydia is the most frequently diagnosed STD in Belgium followed by gonorrhea and syphilis
- 3% of patients who were tested for an STD also tested positive for HIV; the recorded cases concerned men who have sex with men (MSM)
- 34% of patients suffering from an STD are under 25 years old.
Please note! These statistics are subject to change. Consult the Epidemiology of infectious diseases website and Epistat.
STDs in Europe
According to the ECDC in 2013:
- Chlamydia is the most frequently diagnosed STD in Europe
- young adults and men who have sex with men (MSM) are the groups most affected by STDs in Europe.
STDs worldwide
According to the WHO:
- every day, over 1 million people contract an STD
- every year, it is estimated that 500 million people contract one of the following four STDs Chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and trichomoniasis
- over 530 million people are living with the genital herpes virus (HSV2)
- over 290 million women are suffering from an HPV infection, one of the most common STDs
- around 70% of cervical cancers in the world are due to an HPV infection type 16 and 18
- syphilis in pregnant women causes some 305,000 foetal deaths each year.