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Sexually transmitted infections in the Netherlands in 2023

Kayaert, L., Sarink, D., Visser, M., Willemstein, I.J.M., Alexiou, Z.W., Bergen, I. van, Kusters, J.M.A., Op de Coul, E.L.M., Vries, A. de, Wees, D.A. van, Bulsink, K.M., Bokhoven-Rombouts, C.A.J. van, Vanhommerig, J.W., Sighem, A.I., Benthem, B.H.B. van. Sexually transmitted infections in the Netherlands in 2023 Bilthoven: RIVM, 2024. 168 p.
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In 2023, the number of people tested at a Sexual Health Centre (SHC) for a sexually transmitted infection (STI) increased by 4 per cent compared to 2022. The percentage that tested positive for an STI (21 per cent) was the same as in 2022. Individuals who had been notified of an STI by a partner and individuals with symptoms were most likely to have an STI.

In this overview, RIVM describes the developments of STIs in the Netherlands, including the number of tests and diagnoses per STI at the SHCs. In 2023, there were a total of 172,113 consultations. SHCs offer free STI testing to people at high risk of acquiring an STI. Since August 2019, SHCs have also provided care to men who have sex with men (MSM) who receive a drug to prevent HIV (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis, PrEP). This is a five-year long pilot, in which PrEP users are tested for STIs every three months (MSM-PrEP).

Chlamydia
There were 24,048 chlamydia diagnoses in 2023, slightly less than in 2022 (24,684). The percentage of women with chlamydia decreased from 17.9 per cent in 2022 to 16.8 per cent in 2023. The percentage of heterosexual men with chlamydia decreased from 21.2 per cent in 2022 to 19.6 per cent in 2023. The percentages of MSM and MSM-PrEP with chlamydia decreased to 10.2 and 9.1 per cent respectively (10.9 and 9.4 per cent respectively in 2022).

Gonorrhoea
The number of gonorrhoea diagnoses (13,853) was much higher than in 2022 (10,600), an increase of 31 per cent. The percentages of women and heterosexual men with gonorrhoea both increased in 2023, to 4.1 and 3.5 per cent respectively (2.3 and 2.4 per cent respectively in 2022). This is the highest percentage among women since 2014. The increase started in the second half of 2022 and continued throughout 2023. The percentage among MSM increased to 14.1 per cent in 2023 (12.8 per cent in 2022). Among MSM-PrEP, the percentage increased from 9.8 per cent in 2022 to 11.7 per cent in 2023. No antibiotic resistance to the current ‘first-choice’ antibiotic for gonorrhoea (ceftriaxone) was reported.

Syphilis
There were also more syphilis diagnoses in 2023 (1,693) than in 2022 (1,574). The percentage of MSM with syphilis was 2.3 per cent in 2023, the same as in 2022. Among MSM-PrEP, this percentage was 1.8 per cent in 2023, slightly higher than in 2022 (1.7 per cent). The number of diagnoses among women and heterosexual men remained low in 2023: 38 and 43 diagnoses respectively.

HIV
In 2023, 141 people were diagnosed with HIV, slightly less than in 2022 (144). Of these diagnoses, 122 were among MSM (87 per cent). The number of people with HIV who came to an HIV treatment centre for the first time in 2023 (‘in care’) was 987, approximately the same as in 2022 (997).

PrEP
In the PrEP pilot, 13,715 individuals (96 per cent MSM) had a first PrEP consultation, of whom 1,521 in 2023. On 31 December 2023, approximately 8,496 persons were participating in this pilot.