Derbyshire tops the safe sex statistics

There were 4,261 diagnoses of STIs across the county last year at a rate of 553 per 100,000 population.

The number of recorded cases was lower than the national rate of 804 STIs per 100,000 population and regional rate of 704 per 100,000.

The figures were published on June 5 and will be used by public health authorities like Derbyshire County Council to plan actions to tackle STIs.

Cllr Dave Allen, Derbyshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Health and Communities, said: “These latest figures are encouraging but there’s no room for complacency.

“That’s why we’ll be working hard as a public health authority over the next 12 months to raise awareness of how people can reduce their risk of catching or passing on an STI.”

Elaine Michel, the council’s Director of Public Health, advises:

* Always use a condom when having sex with casual or new partners

* Reduce the number of sexual partners and avoid overlapping sexual relationships

* Get tested for chlamydia at least once a year and on change of partner if sexually active and under the age of 25

* Men having sex with men should get tested for STIs at least yearly if having sex with new or casual partners or three monthly if changing partners regularly.