Reported cases of gonorrhoea and infectious syphilis in Australia have increased by over 50% in the last decade, according to new sexual health data from UNSW’s Kirby Institute. Experts have highlighted a concerning rise in cases among women.
In 2025, 42,393 gonorrhoea notifications and 5,986 infectious syphilis notifications were recorded. These figures represent 10-year increases of 57% for gonorrhoea and 56% for infectious syphilis.
While men accounted for the majority of cases in 2025, with 73% of gonorrhoea and 78% of infectious syphilis notifications, there was a 167% increase in syphilis notifications among women, compared to 39% among men. This trend is attributed to an increase in heterosexual transmission.
Dr. Skye McGregor, an epidemiologist at the Kirby Institute, stated that the rise in syphilis among women is an urgent priority due to risks during pregnancy, which can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, congenital syphilis, and infant deaths. Over the same 10-year period, there were 113 congenital syphilis cases, resulting in 40 infant deaths, with approximately half involving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander infants.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians experience disproportionately high STI rates, with gonorrhoea diagnosed at more than four times the rate and syphilis at more than six times the rate compared to non-Indigenous Australians. Dr. McGregor emphasised the need for sustained investment in culturally safe sexual health services and improved access to timely testing and treatment, particularly in regional and remote areas.