BRITS having sex at Christmas parties threaten to trigger an STI boom, experts fear.
It comes at a time when cases of gonorrhoea and syphilis have already reached record levels.
A survey of 2,000 UK office workers found one in five (20 per cent) said they got in on with a colleague at the office Christmas party.
More than one in 10 of those claimed they had contracted an STI (sexually transmitted infection) after the encounter.
But the threat of infection doesn't seem to be enough to encourage them to use protection, with just 14 per cent of men and six per cent of women intending to carry a condom this Christmas.
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The research, which focused on workers' behaviours over Christmas, suggests STIs could surge significantly as a result.
The poll was done by Censuswide on behalf of Your Sexual Health, a private sexual health clinic network.
Dr Rashid Bani, a GP and medical director, said it was “hugely concerning to see such an enormous percentage of the public not taking sexual health seriously”.
He added: "With many people letting their hair down in December, we usually see a clear spike in people looking for sexual health testing in the New Year and throughout January.
"Considering gonorrhoea and syphilis saw record levels this year, we’re more than likely to see a huge rise in positive test results."
Worst case numbers on record
Annual figures from the UK's Health Security Agency (UKHSA) show gonorrhoea diagnoses increased by 50.3 per cent in one year, from 54,961 in 2021 to 82,592 in 2022.
This is the highest number of diagnoses in any one year since records began in 1918, officials said.
Data from the health body also shows that infectious syphilis diagnoses increased to 8,692 in 2022 - the largest annual number since just after the Second World War.
Some of the rise has been attributed to increased testing, but the scale of the sudden surge strongly suggests more infections are around, the UKHSA said previously.
Dr Bani said a rise in STIs would only exacerbate the challenges faced by patients trying to access sexual health care.
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He said: "Public health services could face additional pressure as people struggle to find sexual health testing due to ever-increasing demand on NHS services.
"Combine this with bank holidays, shorter opening hours, and a rise in possible STI cases, many people could be waiting much longer for an appointment."
Experts are also concerned about antibiotic resistance in gonorrhoea, which is making it harder to treat and prevent infections.
The STI causes a burning sensation when you pee and can also lead to green or yellow fluid coming out of your penis or discharge in the vagina.
Syphilis — which was more common in medieval Britain — can cause sores around your genitals or anus, as well as around the mouth or lips.
The disease can also result in white or grey warty growths and a rash that can spread across the whole body.
Both diseases are normally treated with antibiotics but can cause serious health problems if left untreated.
Dr Hamish Mohammed, consultant epidemiologist at UKHSA, said: "STIs aren’t just an inconvenience – they can have a major impact on your health and that of any sexual partners.
"Condoms are the best defence, but if you didn’t use one the last time you had sex with a new or casual partner, get tested to detect any potential infections early and prevent passing them on to others.
"Testing is important because you may not have any symptoms of an STI."
