Research into data on STIs in the UK has revealed that Brits are pretty casual when it comes to using protection in the bedroom – and some cities are worse than others
20:43, 08 Jan 2025Updated 20:49, 08 Jan 2025
Boffins revealed the worst UK cities for STIs (stock image)(Image: Getty Images)
Sex boffins have revealed the worst cities for STIs in the UK, with many Brits failing to get tested after raunchy liaisons without protection.
Research put together by Superdrug Online Doctor suggests most Brits including banging Brummies and loved-up Liverpudlians are care-free when it comes to using protection with new partners. Just 20% of people across the UK who responded to a new study said they take steps to minimise the risk of transmission.
Around one in every 10 people also admitted they were not using protection due simply to a lack of awareness on just how easily they could pick up an STI.
Brits are not great at identifying STIs, the study said (stock image)(Image: Getty)
Other problems include gaps in testing. Around 41% of people said they have never been tested for gonorrhoea, 38% haven’t tested for chlamydia, and 41% are not aware of their HPV status.
Even 47% of Brits showing signs of an STI such as abnormal discharge or genital redness wouldn’t put two and two together, despite being pretty adept at putting one and one together. Women are around 13% more likely to spot symptoms than men, meanwhile.
There are around 400,000 diagnoses or STIs every year with Manchester topping the charts as the city with the highest number of new STI diagnoses per 100,000 people with 1,647.
Next up is Brighton and Hove with 1,610 new diagnoses per 100,000 people and then London, with the copulating capital at 1,448.
Manchester leads the way with the highest rate of new STI diagnoses (stock image)(Image: Getty Images)
Liverpool is next up with 1,355 and then Nottingham on 1,271. Following those cities are Blackpool on 1,115 and Salford on 1,012. Rounding out the top 10 is Portsmouth, Newcastle and Coventry on 861, 849 and 771 respectively.
Superdrug Online Doctor, which has an online STI Risk Tracker, said: “The survey found that only 20% of respondents always use protection when having sex with someone for the first time. For the other 80%, factors like “the heat of the moment” (34%) and trusting their partners are STI-free (30%) contribute to skipping protection.
“Other influencing factors include wanting to feel more intimate (27%), not being prepared (22%), and being under the influence of alcohol (17%). However, 1 in 10 respondents admitted they do not use protection as they are not fully aware of the risks of STI transmission and 15% of Gen Z respondents feel uncomfortable asking their partners about using protection.”
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