STI cases soar as partners take risks

PEOPLE take more risks, have more partners, drink more — and, from an earlier age indulge in more sexual contact, often without protection.

So it comes as little surprise that sexually transmitted diseases are on the rise — and that, according to experts, casual attitudes to sex are making young people particularly vulnerable.

About 60% of all new STI cases occur in the 20 to 29 age group, while a quarter of early cases of syphilis were among people aged 25 to 29, according to figures from the Health Protection Surveillance Agency.