Research: Sexually transmitted infections: North East data

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) represent an important public health problem. This report aims to provide key intelligence about STIs in the North East of England. It presents data on new diagnoses, consultations and screening in sexual health services (SHS) and the National Chlamydia Screening Programme (NCSP).

Data is mostly focused on activity in the North East in 2025. Where appropriate, data for the past 5 or 10 years is provided to understand trends and data from other regions and England as a whole is presented for comparison. Data at the upper tier local authority level is also presented. For a broader context see Sexually transmitted infections and screening for chlamydia in England: 2025 report (1).

Whilst the data shows that access to services has improved following the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, it is important to note that trends in STI testing, diagnoses and patterns of sexual behaviour remain difficult to interpret between 2019 and 2022.

Please note: in January 2025, due to unforeseen circumstances, SHS providers in Teesside were unable to submit surveillance data to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). Most data has subsequently been submitted although some data loss remains. Coupled with an unexpected disruption to service provision in the same period it is likely that there has been an underestimation of STI diagnoses in the affected local authorities and across the North East overall, particularly in 2025. This should be considered when interpreting trends presented in this report.

In 2025 there were 13,078 new STIs diagnosed in the North East population, a rate of 474 diagnoses per 100,000. This is the third highest rate of the UKHSA regions in England and the same position as in 2024. Rates by upper tier local authority ranged from 302 new STI diagnoses per 100,000 in Redcar and Cleveland to 766 new STI diagnoses per 100,000 in Newcastle upon Tyne.