The rise of sexually transmitted diseases in France over the past decade has surprised health officials: What Went Wrong and How to Turn It Around

The rise of sexually transmitted diseases in France over the past decade has surprised health officials.
Despite decades of public education and free condoms for students, infections such as chlamydia and gonorrhoea have surged.

According to Santé publique France, chlamydia cases tripled between 2012 and 2016 — from about 77,000 to more than 267,000. Gonorrhoea cases jumped from 15,000 to nearly 50,000 during the same period.

“We’ve seen testing numbers go up significantly since 2014, which is positive, but it’s also showing us just how widespread these infections have become,”
— Dr Nathalie Lydié, HIV/IST unit, Santé publique France

Why Rates Climbed Despite Education

Experts cite several factors:

• Shifts in behaviour: Condom use rose in the 1990s but fell again after 1998 as HIV fears eased.

• Dating-app culture: Easier, faster partner-matching accelerated the pace of new encounters.

• Testing gaps: Free testing centres (CeGIDD) exist, but stigma and access barriers remain.

• Complacency in long-term relationships: Many couples stop using condoms after a few dates.

“Dating apps themselves aren’t the problem — it’s that they’ve accelerated the pace at which people meet new partners. That makes regular testing and condom use more important than ever,”
— Dr Jean-Michel Molina, Hôpital Saint-Louis, Paris

Sidebar: A Young Adult’s View

Camille, 22, Rennes:
“I didn’t realise how easy it had become to get tested until a friend told me I could just walk into a pharmacy. It used to feel like a big medical appointment, but now it’s quick — and that means I actually go.”

HIV and High-Risk Groups

While HIV infections in France have stabilised overall, they remain concentrated in specific groups. By the end of 2016, 43 percent of new HIV cases were among men who have sex with men.
Until 2015, gay and bisexual men were even barred from giving blood.

“We’re concerned to see that condom use tends to decline as soon as people move past the first few dates — yet that’s often when the risk is still highest,”
— Dr Marie Préau, Inserm/Université Lyon 2

The Role of Testing and Access

Testing rules have eased in recent years: many pharmacies and labs now allow testing without a prescription, and the government reimburses contraception for under-26s.

“Making testing available without a prescription is a breakthrough for young adults and those in rural areas. But stigma still keeps too many from coming forward early,”
— Prof Patrick Pillonel, CeGIDD network

Sidebar: The Rural Challenge

Pascal, 47, Charente:
“Where I live, there’s no CeGIDD centre nearby. Before the new rules, I would’ve needed a doctor’s prescription, which was a hassle. I finally got tested this year at a local lab after the restrictions were lifted.”

Steps Toward Prevention

1. Normalise testing – treat it as routine health maintenance, not a stigma.

2. Use condoms consistently, especially in new or casual relationships.

3. Address substance use that increases risky behaviour; seek needle-exchange programmes where needed.

4. Keep education updated — schools should teach about modern realities such as app-driven dating and PrEP availability.

France is slowly improving awareness, but reversing the trend will take consistent action at individual, institutional, and policy levels.