Why Sexually Transmitted Infections Are Rising in Argentina Amid Falling Condom Use

Specialists across different academic departments at the university point to a complex mix of shifting prevention habits, psychological factors, and changing social perceptions regarding long-term health risks.

Tracing the Historical Surge in Syphilis Cases

According to data from the Boletín Epidemiológico Nacional cited by the Universidad Nacional de La Plata, annual syphilis cases remained under 10,000 between 1994 and 2006, when the infection rate sat at just 1.3 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in 1994.

The upward trajectory accelerated sharply after 2015. Official figures indicate that 25,225 cases were reported by 2019, marking nearly a threefold increase over a four-year span. By 2025, notifications reached a historical peak of 46,779 cases, representing a 75.6 percent jump compared to 2022 figures.

Dr. Silvia González Ayala, an infectious disease specialist and member of the Advisory Council of Extraordinary and Retired Professors at the Faculty of Medical Sciences, describes the national landscape as very concerning regarding syphilis, noting a high circulation of the bacterium Treponema pallidum.

Dr. Rosana Toro, a biochemist and head of the HIV and Syphilis Counseling, Prevention, and Testing Center at the Faculty of Exact Sciences, acknowledges that expanded testing availability and improved reporting systems have increased detection rates. However, Toro emphasizes that enhanced diagnostics alone cannot account for the full phenomenon, noting an undeniable rise in exposure to transmission agents.

Demographic Shifts and Behavioral Factors

Statistical tracking reveals distinct age-related patterns in infection rates. The Boletín Epidemiológico Nacional indicates that 76 percent of syphilis cases occur in individuals between 15 and 39 years old, with the 20-to-24 age bracket shouldering the highest incidence.

This demographic trend mirrors operations at the Exact Sciences Public Health Laboratory, where monthly testing events draw university students with an average age of 24. González Ayala attributes this concentration to a period of heightened sexual enthusiasm spanning ages 15 to 49, while placing particular focus on young adults aged 15 to 35.

This younger cohort often operates within a mindset of social adolescence characterized by a sense of invulnerability, captured by the notion that infection will not happen to them. At the same time, health professionals observe rising vulnerability among older populations who assume stable relationships protect them from future risk.

According to Toro, individuals in long-term relationships often stop perceiving themselves as vulnerable, which frequently leads to delayed medical diagnoses. Data also show shifting gender disparities across age groups, with younger infection rates peaking among women, while rates among men surpass women after age 50 and nearly double female rates in individuals over 65, a trend González Ayala connects to relationships with significantly younger partners.

Targeted Prevention and Misconceptions

Medical specialists stress that prevention strategies must account for how different infections spread. Toro notes that 98 percent of new infections stem from unprotected sexual contact, adding clear clarification regarding human immunodeficiency virus transmission.

In the case of the VIH, the infection is not acquired by sharing mate, greetings, or through kisses. Contact between mucous membranes or with blood is required.

Furthermore, if bleeding oral lesions are present, risks associated with blood contact can apply to other conditions. Ultimately, specialists emphasize that consistent protection remains essential across all age groups, as public health campaigns continue working to address persistent myths and encourage routine testing.