STI rates have surged across Australia by 46 per cent over the past decade, with untreated cases of common infections such as chlamydia and gonorrhoea leading to serious health consequences. There were almost 110,000 confirmed chlamydia cases in 2023 and women made up nearly 70 per cent of notifications. Gonorrhoea was the second most common STI with more than 40,000 cases, half of which were people aged 15-29. Nearly half of Australian women say they experience discomfort or reluctance when it comes to discussing sexual health with a care provider, making them most vulnerable to falling behind with their testing. Men do not face the same stigma, Ms Lloyd added, and they are more likely to be the transmitter of the infection.