Genital herpes rising in England, despite overall drop in STIs

New cases of genital herpes are increasing in England, bucking an overall fall in sexually transmitted infections (STIs), the latest data shows.

Nearly 29,000 people were diagnosed with genital herpes in 2025 – a 3% rise on the previous year, according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).

Overall, STI diagnoses fell by 8% over the same period, from around 364,000 to 334,000, with decreases seen in infections such as chlamydia, gonorrhoea and syphilis.

Health experts say the rise in herpes – a common virus that spreads easily through skin-to-skin contact – is a reminder that STIs are a widespread problem and that testing for them is vital.

Genital herpes can be passed on during vaginal, anal or oral sex, even when there are no visible symptoms. It can also spread if a cold sore comes into contact with the genitals.

New cases went down during the Covid pandemic - when fewer people came forward for testing - but have been rising again since, although are not yet as high as in 2019 when there were nearly 35,000 new cases diagnosed.

Despite the recent fall in total STI cases, they remain particularly high among young people and gay and bisexual men, the UKHSA says.

There were also mixed trends within different groups. Diagnoses of syphilis in gay and bisexual men dropped sharply – down 19% to their lowest level since 2016. But cases in heterosexual women rose by 5%.

Chlamydia remained by far the most common infection, accounting for almost half of all diagnoses, followed by gonorrhoea and genital herpes.

Dr Hamish Mohammed, a consultant epidemiologist at the UKHSA, said progress had been made but warned there was "more to do".

"These infections can cause serious harm," he said. "If you have had sex with a new or casual partner without a condom, it's important to get tested – even if you don't have symptoms."

He also raised concerns about a drop in chlamydia testing, which fell by 9% in 2025.

Untreated chlamydia can cause pelvic inflammatory disease and infertility.

"Sexually active young women are encouraged to test for chlamydia after sex with a new partner or annually," he added.

Wearing a condom can prevent the spread of many STIs.

You can get genital herpes:

• from skin-to-skin contact with the infected area (including vaginal, anal and oral sex)
• when there are no visible sores or blisters
• if a cold sore touches your genitals
• by transferring the infection on fingers from someone else to your genitals
• by sharing sex toys with someone who has herpes

You cannot get it from towels, swimming pools, saunas or toilet seats as there is no skin-to-skin contact, says the NHS.