Experts are warning about STIs rates rising ahead of summer (Credits: Getty Images)
Fatigue and mud-drenched clothes might not be the only thing you return home with after a festival this summer, as experts are warning about the rise of sexually transmitted infections before summer events.
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control has issued warnings about unprotected sex at festivals, after its latest Annual Epidemiological Report found cases of syphilis, gonorrhoea and chlamydia are surging across the continent.
The data shows gonorrhoea cases rose by 48%, syphilis cases by 34% and chlamydia cases by 16%.
Summer festivals and holidays are associated with an increase in risky sex, which is why experts are raising the alarm about protection from STIs.
A 2022 study from researchers at Trinity College Dublin reported that 40% of participants had sex following the use of a drug at a festival and, of those, 66% said that the sex was unprotected.
Having safe sex is important during festival season (Credits: Getty Images)
‘As summer travel and festival season bring people from across Europe together, it is essential to be aware of the spread of STIs, know where one can get tested regularly, and how to seek reliable information from healthcare professionals,’ say experts from the ECDPC.
Safe sex tips for summer
While emergency contraception, sexual health advice and screenings are available at many festivals, including Glastonbury, the best way to protect yourself is with preventative methods.
How to prevent the spread of STIs at festivals
The ECDPC has suggested the following preventative measures:
- Use condoms for ‘vaginal, anal and oral sex.
- Use disposable gloves for fingering or fisting
- Use dental dams during oral-anal sex
- Change condoms between anal and oral sex
- Avoid sharing sex toys and thoroughly clean and disinfect them after their use, and between partners
- Wash your hands, genital and anal areas before and after sexual contact
- If experiencing diarrhoea, it is important to avoid sexual activity and seek health care
New tech is also trying to create digital steps for safer sex. Leading the way is a Zults, a sexual health app launched in partnership with NHS-backed Sexual Health London.
Zults allows people to test for STIs, then upload their medical data and health results to their profile to receive a reZults Card. This can be quickly shared with others – even those who don’t have the app – as proof of sexual health status for peace of mind.
‘One of the most commonly requested products by pharmacists at festivals is the morning after pill, so this shows today the urgent need for people to be proactive – rather than reactive – when it comes to having safe sex,’ says Bianca Dunne, co-founder of Zults.
‘With the EU Health Watchdog issuing a warning about the increased risk of STI transmission, Zults – a new technology that we’ve launched in collaboration with SHL to increase more at home, free testing – helps people be more aware about the sexual health status of their prospective partners at festivals.’
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Dunne created the app after finding people were still embarrassed to have conversations around STIs and safe sex, despite an increasing amount of people being open about the sexuality and sexual preferences.
‘Zults helps to remove the need for awkward conversations and enables users to make informed decisions about their sexual health to prevent the spread of STIs, ensuring a safer and more enjoyable festival experience for everyone,’ she says.
While all health apps involve risk to privacy, the technological team behind the app tells Metro.co.uk that it only retains encrypted medical data for the duration of the active Zults card before being deleted. If you choose to leave your Zults card open on your profile, it can visible to all Zults users or toggled to ‘private’.
However you protect yourself, staying safe from rising cases of STIs this festival season is more important than ever.
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