ΑΥΞΗΣΗ ΤΩΝ ΣΕΞΟΥΑΛΙΚΩΣ ΜΕΤΑΔΙΔΟΜΕΝΩΝ ΝΟΣΗΜΑΤΩΝ ΛΟΓΩ ΤΩΝ ΤΗΛΕΦΩΝΙΚΩΝ ΕΦΑΡΜΟΓΩΝ ΕΡΩΤΙΚΩΝ ΓΝΩΡΙΜΙΩΝ;

Increasingly popular dating apps such as Tinder and Grindr are being blamed for a surge in cases of sexually transmitted diseases, say doctors.

Match-making websites and applications on smart phones and tablets have proved extremely popular, especially for those in their 20s and 30s.

They provide users with a list of potential partners in their area, with many increasingly looking for casual sexual encounters.

And health experts are now saying the apps are leading to a rise in sexually transmitted infections.

Gonorrhoea cases in England jumped 15 per cent between 2012 and 2013, from 25,577 to 29,291 while Syphilis cases went up nine per cent, from 2,981 to 3,249.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, Peter Greenhouse, of the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV, said: “You don't have to be a genius to work out that these sorts of apps make having casual sex a damn sight easier.

“You can find, down to a metre or two, the nearest available person who is interested. This is something that just hasn't been available before.”

Chlamydia can cause infertility in women, though most clear it naturally.

Gonorrhoea can cause infertility but needs antibiotics to clear it. Doctors are worried by a rise in antibiotic-resistant gonorrhoea.

Syphilis can lead to blindness, brain damage and even death if left untreated. (gloucestercitizen.co.uk)