Low screening means STI rates could be much higher

More than half of the study participants, 54.8%, reported never being tested for one or more STIs such as syphilis, chlamydia, HIV, or gonorrhoea. File photo: Simon Dawson/PA

The prevalence of sexually transmitted infections may be even higher than the reported figures, according to the authors of new research highlighting the low STI screening rate in young adults.

Data taken from 400 young people aged 18 to 34 found that more than half had never been tested for STIs. There also appeared to be differing attitudes towards testing between those who already had themselves tested and those who had not, in an age group that has consistently had the highest age-specific incidence rates of STIs.