‘Safe-sex fatigue’: dramatic rise in STI rates in WA

A DRAMATIC rise in rates of sexually transmitted infections in WA is being blamed on condoms not being used, particularly among young heterosexual couples.

There have been steadily high numbers of people with chlamydia for a number of years, with 11,831 cases reported in 2016 and 3276 cases reported so far this year.

“We have been promoting safe sex for many years and I think there is an element of safe-sex fatigue or condom fatigue,” Lisa Bastian, manager of the sexual health and bloodborne virus program at the Department of Health, said.

“People need to see STIs as relevant to their lifestyle and they have to feel at risk of STIs to be concerned about using condoms.”

Ms Bastian said the rate of infection in the community showed little sign of slowing.

“Of note is that the increase seems to be accelerating. In 2016, gonorrhoea notifications were up 49 per cent,” she said.

Ms Bastian said of particular concern was the rate of gonorrhoea among young heterosexual women, which jumped 77 per cent last year…

Source: ‘Safe-sex fatigue’: dramatic rise in STI rates in WA | Perth Now