Itziar Larizgoitia: “Young people consider the condom something of the past, an old-fashioned thing”

– How does the Ministry of Health perceive this data?

“They show us a fairly pronounced increase in sexually transmitted infections over the past four years. But it came earlier. It has been observed that the number of cases has been increasing for ten years, but the growth has been faster in the last four years. It’s significantly faster. This is not unique to Euskadi. This is happening in Spain, in Western Europe and in most European countries, and it worries us.

– Why did the number of cases increase after the pandemic?

– We don’t know how to answer. At least one with a single reason. I understand that the reasons must be of a fundamental social nature. That is, changes in behavior at the social level, more contact, more contact than before, without protection… We must study why this phenomenon occurs.

– What is the profile of a Basque who has contracted an STI?

– Fundamentally young, coinciding with the moment when wider and more varied sexual interactions can occur. The incidence peaks between ages 20 and 34, but increases significantly between ages 20 and 24.

– They were identified as a “particularly vulnerable” group in the 2023 AIDS and STI Plan report. Because?

“Because this is where these types of infections occur more frequently and more severely, and because in this age group there are some social factors that lead to this situation. That is, the practice of having more frequent and varied sexual relationships or with more sexual partners. In this sense, it makes them more vulnerable to infection.

– Do young people have a certain sense of relaxation?

– Maybe yes. A sense of triviality about the infection may also be spreading because it is known that we have a health care network that will deal with cases when they occur. This is where the use of condoms comes into play, which might be considered something of the past, something outdated. However, this is a very important element, this is the main barrier that we have to avoid this transmission.

– Has its use decreased?

“Less than half of young people use it in their sexual relationships and it needs to be valued again as its use has become trivial.”

– How does one of these diseases affect the quality of life?

– Most often, local symptoms begin to be noticed in the genital area, which can range from rash, redness, itching, discharge, swelling, swelling, pain during urination, sexual intercourse, etc. d. The situation can then worsen and lead to chronic inflammation in the pelvic area, which can cause many complications over the years. It can also cause chronic pain in the abdomen or pelvis and can lead to infertility in the medium to long term.

– HIV is another sexually transmitted infection that is on the rise in the Basque Country, where almost two out of every three new cases are in people from other countries. How do you interpret this data?

– We must take into account that in recent years the social composition in Euskadi has changed greatly. Since 2000, people of other origins have begun to settle here, and all this has at least two aspects. On the one hand, social and sexual practices that perhaps correspond to different models from those that existed here before. A different way of behavior, attitude… On the other hand, these are people who come from other contexts who can be carriers of viruses and bacteria, in this case HIV. So if you have people who come from places where there is a lot of HIV, they are proportionally more likely to bring it in.

– The million dollar question. How to stop this increase in incidence?

– Using a condom is a great way to prevent sexually transmitted infections. Not 100%, but it is largely preventable and is an element that needs to be appreciated and seen as a useful tool for everyone. For yourself and for your partner. On the other hand, there is education. We are updating existing and previously used materials on affective-sexual education. It is important that they are updated because we have collectively changed in terms of our perception of sexuality on a social level, and it is important that these materials adapt to new times.

– What should this “new” sex education be like?

– It must adapt to reality and context. And social reality has changed. In recent years there has been a great and very differentiated development in relation to sexuality and sexuality being experienced differently, in relation to people’s identity, the perception of gender and the gender of each person. This should be reflected in new content.

– Last year, Osakidets launched an information campaign that mentioned a well-known social network of contacts. Are these types of apps a breeding ground for STIs?

– Much of the social change that has occurred is due to the ease of pairing. In this sense, it is true that managing applications that allow one person to connect with another and in some cases connect solely to maintain a relationship makes it easier to maintain a relationship. This has something to do with it, although it doesn’t mean the application has a cause-and-effect relationship.

– How often should a person who does not have a stable partner be tested for sexually transmitted infections?

– The first thing I would advise you to do is use a condom. This is absolutely fundamental. Let’s assume he doesn’t use it. If you have symptoms of infection, this is normal. As soon as you notice them, contact your health center for treatment. If you don’t have symptoms, get tested… It would be strange for someone who has many sexual partners and doesn’t use condoms to have no symptoms.

– Is there any fear of the white coat?

– May be. And shame. Especially for very young people who didn’t think this could happen to them. We must try to reduce or eliminate this phenomenon and encourage all young people who suddenly notice discomfort, itching, unusual discharge… to contact a medical center immediately. Medical professionals are ready to listen and treat you.

“Summer is one of the periods when the most cases of STIs are registered”

– Although STIs are not seasonal like the flu, are there times of year when there are more cases of the disease?

– Yes, because infections are associated with the frequency of risky sexual intercourse. Risky sexual relations are those in which a condom was not used with a person who is or may be infected. There are times of year when they happen the most, and this is one of them. Summer, spring parties, end of the school year… these are the times when people meet more often. This is something that solely depends on it. If there is a massive party in the fall with a lot of sexual encounters, obviously this will also be the time when many cases can occur.

– Have we already overcome the problem of stigma or is this still an unresolved problem?

– It is very important to try to break down or eliminate the stigma that can arise when someone reports or notices something happening to them. I think we all understand that this can happen, especially if precautions are not taken. This is why it is important to contact the health system, medical centers, and special centers for the treatment of sexually transmitted infections in order to provide treatment and be able to stop this infection as soon as possible and avoid its transmission to third parties. We have a very strong healthcare system.

– Does one infection often coexist with another?

– Yes, the same person can develop several at the same time. Which, on the other hand, can make everything much more complicated in the future.

– How long does it take from the moment of infection to diagnosis?

– Very little time. The moment someone comes to the clinic with symptoms, tests are done to determine what it is, but things can be guessed at. The diagnosis is made quickly: within a few hours or days, the infection is identified and the person is given specific treatment.