Rates of reported gonorrhoea and infectious syphilis have increased by more than 50% across Australia over the past decade, with experts warning of a concerning rise among women. According to new data from UNSW’s Kirby Institute, 42,393 gonorrhoea cases and 5,986 infectious syphilis cases were recorded in 2025. These figures represent increases of 57% and 56%, respectively, compared to 2015. Both gonorrhoea and syphilis are bacterial infections that can cause serious health problems if left untreated but are curable with early detection and treatment. Men accounted for the majority of cases in 2025, making up 73% of gonorrhoea notifications and 78% of syphilis cases. The report suggests that a significant portion of transmission continues to occur through male-to-male sexual contact, particularly among gay and bisexual men. However, there has been a notable rise in syphilis cases among women, with notification rates increasing by 167% over the decade—compared to a 39% increase among men. Experts believe this reflects an increase in heterosexual transmission. Dr Skye McGregor, an epidemiologist at the Kirby Institute, emphasized the urgency of addressing the rise in syphilis among women, particularly due to the risks during pregnancy. "It’s really concerning because the rise among women has contributed to syphilis in pregnancy, which can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, congenital syphilis and infant deaths," she said. Across the same 10-year period, there were 113 cases of congenital syphilis, with 40 infants tragically dying. Around half of these cases involved Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander infants, highlighting the need for early testing and treatment during pregnancy. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians continue to face disproportionately high rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), with gonorrhoea rates over four times and syphilis rates over six times higher than among non-Indigenous Australians. McGregor stressed the importance of culturally safe sexual health services and improved access to testing and treatment, especially in remote areas. She also pointed to social determinants such as income, education, and employment as factors contributing to the disparity. McGregor praised the efforts of community-led health programs, noting that without these initiatives, syphilis rates could have been much higher. She urged people to resume regular sexual health screening, which had declined during the Covid-19 pandemic, and emphasized the role of comprehensive prevention, including condom use and early testing, in reducing STI transmission.