New data from Maccabi Healthcare Services show a nearly 20% drop in positive tests for four common sexually transmitted infections — chlamydia, gonorrhea, Mycoplasma genitalium and trichomoniasis — in both men and women during the first five months of 2026 compared with the same period over the past four years.
Despite the decline, syphilis diagnoses rose sharply, increasing 120% over four years, with a 160% jump among women and 90% among men.
“Sometimes there is a delay in diagnosis because doctors don’t always suspect it or link symptoms to this disease,” said Dr. Shirley Shapira Ben-David, head of infectious diseases at Maccabi Healthcare Services. “Syphilis is common in both sexes, and it’s important for both patients and physicians to be aware of it.”
The decline in other STIs may reflect a combination of slightly fewer tests, shifts in sexual behavior amid ongoing security concerns, and greater awareness of protective measures, Dr. Shapira Ben-David said. Preventive treatment with doxycycline, known as Doxy-PEP, is also being used more among high-risk patients to reduce the risk of chlamydia and gonorrhea after casual sexual encounters.
Government figures show gonorrhea cases rose from 460 in 2023 to 1,755 in 2025, while chlamydia cases nearly doubled to 2,000 in the same period.
Syphilis, caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum, is typically spread through unprotected sex. Early symptoms include painless sores and flu-like signs. Without treatment, it can severely damage the heart and brain or be fatal, but early detection allows effective antibiotic treatment.
The rise in syphilis poses particular risks for pregnant women, as infection can be transmitted to the fetus, causing congenital syphilis. Affected newborns may suffer from rashes, fever, enlarged organs, developmental delays, deafness, or death. All pregnant women in Israel are screened for the disease.
The increase is part of a broader global trend. CDC data show U.S. syphilis cases rose about 80% from 2018 to 2022, with congenital cases climbing nearly 180%.
Dr. Shapira Ben-David stressed that STIs affect all populations, not just the LGBTQ community, and urged routine testing. “Even without symptoms, exposure to unprotected sex warrants screening every few months,” she said. Patients should also inform sexual partners to ensure timely testing and treatment.