The silent STI threat: Why unseen infections are a growing concern

Man covering his genitals with both hands. [Courtesy/GettyImages]

Despite growing openness around sexual health, many still underestimate the threat of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs). While unplanned pregnancy is often the bigger worry, infections like gonorrhoea and chlamydia silently creep through communities, often without symptoms. Left untreated, they can affect fertility, cause lifelong complications or become harder to treat.

According to Dr Keagan Kirugo, a urologist, the most common STIs he treats are gonorrhoea and chlamydia. “They are prevalent because of seeing multiple sexual partners without protection,” he says. Many people still engage in unprotected sex out of trust, misinformation or indifference.