Sexual Health

Sexual health is defined by WHO as encompassing sexual orientation and gender identity, sexual expression, relationships, and pleasure. They also include negative consequences or conditions such as:

• Infections with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and reproductive tract infections (RTIs) and their adverse outcomes (such as cancer and infertility)

• Unintended pregnancy and abortion

• Sexual dysfunction

• Sexual violence

• Harmful practices (such as female genital mutilation, FGM)

A sexual health and contraception health needs assessment for Bedford Borough and Central Bedfordshire was published in 2022.

Overall the report found that diagnosed sexually transmitted infections in Central Bedfordshire declined from 2019 to 2020 and in particular the chlamydia detection rate and percentage of 15-24 screened, declined sharply. Reasons for this are likely to be a combination of a change in sexual behaviour due to lockdowns and a decline in service use meaning fewer STIs are being detected. In addition, although numbers are small and the trend statistically insignificant, the HIV late diagnosis rate increased in Central Bedfordshire.

You can download the report below.

For the latest statistics relating to Chlamydia and HIV in Central Bedfordshire, please follow the links below.

• Chlamydia diagnostic rate per 100,000 aged 25 years and older

• Chlamydia proportion aged 15 to 24 screened

• HIV late diagnosis in people first diagnosed with HIV in the UK