Sexual Health JSNA

Data and Intelligence

The Department of Health and Social Care have a Sexual and Reproductive Health Profile on their “Fingertips” data tool where the latest information can be viewed. Sexual and Reproductive Health Profiles | Fingertips | Department of Health and Social Care

The following information is a summary of key findings from this information when viewed in 2025.

Sexual health overview

Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)

  • Chlamydia (15–24 years): Detection rates remain significantly higher than regional and national averages, though they fell from 2,900.73 to 1,817.02 per 100,000 (2022–2024). Hartlepool ranks 13th of 163 LAs. Rates have fluctuated over five years, peaking in 2022.
  • Chlamydia (25+): Consistently lower than England but higher than the North East, increasing to 181.86 per 100,000 in 2024.
  • New STI diagnoses (excluding chlamydia under 25): Increased in line with regional/national trends; Hartlepool remains similar to NE but lower than England (368.06 per 100,000 in 2024, rank 132/163).
  • All new STI diagnoses: Declined from 680.9 (2022) to 576.73 per 100,000 (2024) after previous increases.
  • STI testing rates: Rising over five years but remain below NE and England (2,700.12 per 100,000 in 2024).
  • Specific infections:
    • Genital herpes: Sharp rise; now above NE and England (54.53 per 100,000, rank 114/163).
    • Genital warts: Declining trend; now below NE and England (28.31 per 100,000, rank 137/163).
    • Gonorrhoea: Rose then fell to 72.35 per 100,000 (2024); Hartlepool ranks 162/163.
    • Mycoplasma genitalium: Increased but remains lowest nationally (9.44 per 100,000, rank 163/163).
    • Syphilis: Significant rise linked to local outbreak (40.90 per 100,000, rank 122/163).
    • Trichomoniasis: Increased sharply to 10.49 per 100,000, above NE but below England.

HIV

  • Late diagnosis: Lower than NE and England in 2021 (28.57%).
  • New diagnoses: Fluctuating; sharp fall to 2.10 per 100,000 (2023).
  • Prevalence: Low at 0.69 per 100,000 (2023).
  • Testing rates: Increased, surpassing NE in 2023 (2,001.90 per 100,000).
  • Care outcomes:
    • ART coverage: 100% (rank 1st nationally).
    • Prompt ART start: 100% (rank 1st nationally).
    • PrEP need and uptake: Increasing but below NE and England (47.83% uptake).
    • Virological success: 95.31%, slightly below NE and England.

Reproductive Health

  • Abortions: Under 10 weeks increased to 90.4%; medical abortions at 100%.
  • Abortion rates: Increased in over 25s to 18.3 per 1,000; total rate 20.6 per 1,000 (2021).
  • Repeat abortions (under 25): Declined to 22.5%.
  • Ectopic pregnancy admissions: Rising to 116.8 per 100,000 (2022/23).
  • Pelvic inflammatory disease: Consistently higher than NE and England (255.5 per 100,000 in 2023/24).
  • Conception rates: Declined then rose to 74.9 per 1,000 (2022), remaining above NE and England.

Contraception

Long-Acting Reversible Contraception (LARC)

  • Total prescribed LARC (excluding injections) has increased since 2020 to 36.9 per 1,000 in 2023, but remains below regional (42.1) and national (43.5) averages.
  • LARC prescribed by SRH services rebounded after a sharp COVID-related decline in 2019–2020 and has been consistently higher than regional and national averages since 2019.

Short-Acting Contraception

  • Combined hormonal contraception (GP): Declining trend, consistently lower than NE and England (92.0 per 1,000 in 2023).
  • Combined hormonal contraception (SRH): Fluctuating, sharp COVID-related decline, recent increase to 7.9 per 1,000 in 2023, still below NE and England.
  • Progesterone-only pill (GP): Increased since 2016, remains higher than NE and England (180.8 per 1,000 in 2023).
  • Progesterone-only pill (SRH): Declining since 2019 but above national trend (15.9 per 1,000 in 2023).
  • Injectable contraception (GP): Increased since 2016, consistently higher than NE and England (78.6 per 1,000 in 2023).
  • Injectable contraception (SRH): Declined during COVID, slight recent increase (11.1 per 1,000 in 2023, lower than NE but higher than England).

Choice of LARC

  • Under 25s choosing LARC at SRH services: Increased to 43.7%, higher than NE and England since 2021.
  • Over 25s choosing LARC: Increased to 54.3% in 2023, consistently above regional and national averages since 2021.

Access to Services

  • Under 25s (female) attending SRH services: Increased to 148.0 per 1,000 in 2023, higher than NE (120.9) and England (103.0).
  • Under 25s (male) attending SRH services: Increased sharply to 30.1 per 1,000 in 2023, higher than NE (12.9) and England (14.2).

Emergency Contraception

Although specific data is not publicly available, there has been intelligence of a notable rise in the use of emergency contraception this will be factored into our plans of what is being done and why.

Under 18s

  • Under 16 conceptions leading to abortion: Fell from 100% (2020) to 50% (2021).
  • Under 18 conceptions leading to abortion: Declining since 2019 (44.1% in 2021).
  • Under 18 abortion rate: Decreased from 15.5% (2019) to 8.8% (2021).
  • Under 16 conception rate: Increased to 4.0 per 1,000 in 2021 after previous decline.
  • Under 18 conception rate: Decreased to 19.9 per 1,000 in 2021.
  • Under 18 birth rate: Long-term decline but remains above national average (5.2 per 1,000 in 2022).

Wider Determinants

  • Alcohol-specific admissions (under 18): Declined, lower than NE and England (rank 102/163 in 2021).
  • Attainment 8 score: Declined to 41.2% in 2022, mirroring national trend.
  • Youth justice first-time entrants: Higher than NE and England (181.2 per 100,000 in 2023).
  • Pupil absence: Increased to 7.75% in 2023, similar to NE and above England.
  • Sexual offences: Increased to 4.11 per 1,000 in 2022, higher than NE and England.

Expenditure

Sexual health service expenditure: Increased since 2019/20.