SEVERAL lesser-known sexually transmitted infections are spreading rapidly across Britain, doctors warn.
The six bugs carry a range of symptoms - from stomach cramps to pain after sex - and could put people at risk of irreversible damage and infertility.
As Valentine's Day approaches, Dr Mariyam Hassan Malik is urging Brits to be on the lookout for tell-tale signs, and to get tested if they go to bed with a new partner.
The GP, from Pall Mall Medical, told The Sun: "The key to managing and preventing the spread of such diseases lies in awareness, regular sexual health checks, timely intervention, and an open dialogue with your healthcare professionals without feeling embarrassed.
"I cannot emphasise the critical importance of regular screenings, blood tests, and safe sex practices.
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"Early detection and adopting love safe measures can prevent future complications to your health and well-being.
"But if you’re clued-up, you can greatly reduce your chances of receiving more than flowers on the year’s most romantic day."
The most common STI in the UK is chlamydia, followed by genital warts, gonorrhoea, genital herpes and syphilis.
But Dr Malik identified six others which are on the rise.
1. Mycoplasma genitalium
- Transmission: Unprotected vaginal or anal sex.
- Symptoms: Pain when urinating, discharge, bleeding after sex, rectal inflammation, lower stomach discomfort.
- Testing: Genital swabs or urine, analysed to detect the presence of the bacterium.
- Consequences: Urethritis, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), infertility.
- Treatment: Antibiotics.
- How common is it: One in 50 adults in England are believed to currently carry MG.
Mycoplasma genitalium, sometimes called MG or Mgen, is transmitted through unprotected sex.
While easily treated with antibiotics, many people don't notice they have it as symptoms can be very subtle or non-existent.
Men might experience pain when peeing, pain in their testicles and anal discharge, while women often notice abnormal vaginal bleeding, discharge and pain in the lower abdomen.
If left untreated, it can cause urethritis (when the tube that carries pee from the bladder out of the body becomes swollen and sore), pelvic inflammatory disease (an infection of the female reproductive system), and infertility.
Dr Malik, from Manchester, said: "Timely detection and treatment are crucial."
You can protect yourself by using condoms, limiting the number of sexual partners you have, and having regular screenings, she added.
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Mgen is considered a relatively 'new' STI, having only been discovered in 1981 and reliable testing only available from 2017.
The NHS estimates up to one in 50 adults in England currently carry the condition.
Experts fear Mgen could become an untreatable "superbug" as it's becoming resistant to certain drugs.
2. Lymphogranuloma venereum
- Transmission: Unprotected anal or vaginal sex, sharing sex toys.
- Symptoms: Swelling of lymph nodes, genital or rectal ulcers, bleeding, pus, constipation, fever, rash.
- Testing: Samples from genital or rectal ulcers and swollen lymph nodes are analysed.
- Consequences: Chronic infection, damage to lymphatic system.
- Treatment: Antibiotics.
- How common is it: The infection is on the rise, from 570 cases in 2021 to 1,042 in 2022, according to government figures.
Some strains of chlamydia can cause lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV).
The bacteria attacks the lymph nodes, which are an important part of the body's defence against infections.
It primarily spreads through vaginal and anal sex, but it is possible to pass it on through the mouth and throat, and sharing sex toys.
If LGV isn't treated, it can lead to chronic infection and lymphatic system damage, Dr Malik warned.
She said: "Prevention involves using condoms consistently."
Sexual Health London added: "LGV is increasingly being identified in gay and bisexual men (especially those also infected with HIV), but is rare in heterosexual men and women in the UK."
Between 2018 and 2019, there was a 56 per cent increase in reports in sexual health services (from 688 to 1,076), and a 33 per cent rise in laboratory reports (from 854 to 1,133) in men.
"Prior to 2019, the number of LGV reports peaked in 2015, then declined until 2017, but has since risen rapidly," according to a report by Public Health England.
Cases then rose 83 per cent between 2021 and 2022, from 570 to 1,042.
3. Donovanosis
- Transmission: Unprotected sex.
- Symptoms: Painful ulcers, genital swelling, sores or lumps, pain, bad smells.
- Testing: Samples from genital ulcers, examined for presence of the bacteria.
- Consequences: Destruction of genital tissues, irreversible damage.
- Treatment: Antibiotics.
- How common is it: Reported cases rose from 21 in 2018 to 30 in 2019, dipping to 18 in 2020 during the pandemic, Public Health England data shows.
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Donovanosis is understood to be more common in countries like India and Brazil, but cases are starting to creep up in England.
Also known as granuloma inguinale and klebsiella granulomatis, it causes lesions around the groin and genitals.
These can turn into "beefy red" foul-smelling ulcers if they become infected.
"Untreated cases result in extensive tissue destruction and potential complications," Dr Malik said.
Condoms are the best form of prevention, she added.
Reported cases rose from 21 in 2018 to 30 in 2019, Public Health England data shows.
There was a dip to 18 in 2020 during the pandemic, but officials fear this is shooting back up again now.
4. Shigella
- Transmission: Oral, faecal, sexually.
- Symptoms: Diarrhoea, abdominal pain, fever, vomiting.
- Testing: Examination of stool samples.
- Consequences: Dehydration, kidney failure, seizures.
- Treatment: Antibiotics, drinking plenty of water.
- How common is it: There were 97 reported cases in 2023, up from four the previous year, government figures reveal.
Shigella is a type of bacteria that causes severe stomach upset, known as gastroenteritis.
It is passed on orally, through faeces, and sometimes sexually, and causes diarrhoea, stomach cramps, vomiting and a fever.
In more serious cases, there may be blood or mucus in a sufferer's poo.
"Untreated, it may lead to dehydration, kidney failure, or seizures," Dr Malik said.
In 2023, the number of Shigella cases increased by 53 per cent from January to September, when 485 were recorded.
Much of this rise was driven by a cluster of extensively-antibiotic resistant Shigella sonnei, of which there were 97 cases, compared to just four the year before.
Cases were diagnosed in all regions of England, but were concentrated in London (45), the North West (21) and South East (12).
"This is a concerning rise in cases of this antibiotic resistant strain, meaning treatment can be very difficult," Dr Gauri Godbole, consultant medical microbiologist at UKHSA, said.
The best way to prevent "highly-infectious" Shigella, she added, is to "practice good hygiene after sex".
"Avoid oral sex immediately after anal sex, and change condoms between anal or oral sex and wash your hands with soap after sexual contact," Dr Godbole said.
Shigella is often referred to as a "superbug" as it has become resistant to many antibiotics.
5. Gardnerella vaginalis
- Transmission: Not transmitted as such.
- Symptoms: Discharge and odour.
- Testing: Examining vaginal discharge samples under a microscope and conducting pH tests.
- Consequences: Increased risk of PID, potential complications in pregnancy.
- Treatment: Antibiotics.
- How common is it: No figures.
Gardnerella vaginalis is one type of bacteria that lives inside your vagina.
Having too much of it can cause bacterial vaginosis (BV) - an infection that triggers unusual discharge.
"While not strictly an STI, its presence may increase the risk of complications like pelvic inflammatory disease if left untreated," Dr Malik said.
Gardnerella isn't something you can catch, but people with more sexual partners are more at risk, it is understood.
To protect against any problems, practice good genital hygiene, use condoms, and seek medical attention for any unusual discharge.
Around 30 per cent of women will develop BV before they reach the menopause, but there is no official data for Gardnerella.
6. Ureaplasma
- Transmission: Oral or vaginal sexual contact.
- Symptoms: Painful urination, unusual foul-smelling discharge, genital discomfort, wetness, lower abdominal pain.
- Testing: Genital swabs or urine samples, PCR or culture methods.
- Consequences: Persistent or recurrent urethritis, PID, increased risk of preterm birth, kidney stones, BV, cervicitis.
- Treatment: Antibiotics.
- How common is it: Estimates suggest a large proportion of the sexually active population is infected with Ureaplasma without it causing any issues.
If you experience pain when you pee, you have bad-smelling discharge, or your genitals feel sore, you could have Ureaplasma.
The bacteria, which was first discovered in 1954, is present in the mouth and genitals of many healthy people, causing no symptoms and requiring no treatment.
However, it can also be passed on through unprotected sex and cause long-term problems.
These include urethritis, PID, pregnancy complications, kidney stones, BV and cervicitis - inflammation of the cervix.
"To prevent Ureaplasma transmission, individuals should practice safe sex, and those with symptoms or concerns should seek medical advice for appropriate testing," Dr Maliks said.
"Antibiotic treatment is prescribed based on a healthcare professional's assessment to ensure effective eradication of the bacteria."
