Prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and Mycoplasma genitalium infections among women and men aged 18–59 in mainland France: the PrévIST survey

Against the backdrop of rising rates of bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in Europe and France, the PrévIST study was conducted to estimate the prevalence of infections caused by Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct), Neisseria gonorrhoeae (Ng), and Mycoplasma genitalium (Mg) in France. It drew on data from the 2023 Contexte des sexualités en France (CSF) random survey to identify risk factors associated with these infections. Offered to people aged 18–59 who had ever had sexual intercourse, PrévIST invited CSF respondents to collect a sample at home—vaginal for women and urinary for men. Laboratory analyses were performed at the National Reference Center for Bacterial STIs, and the results were adjusted to be representative of the general population. Of the 4,871 samples collected, 32 tested positive for Ct. Prevalence rates were 0.58% for men and 0.93% for women, with higher rates among those aged 25–29, men who had had multiple sexual partners in the past year, or women living in a medium-sized or small city. Regarding Mg, 71 samples were positive. Prevalence rates were 1.25% for men and 3.06% for women, higher among men aged 30–49 and those who had had one or more male sexual partners in the past year, and among women who had had multiple sexual partners in the past year. For Ng, only one positive case was identified. These results indicate low prevalence rates in the general population and suggest that bacterial STIs primarily affect highly exposed populations, such as people with multiple sexual partners or men who have sex with men.

Author(s): Sauvage Claire, Balcon Carla, Chazelle Émilie, Peuchant Olivia, Moreau Caroline, Lot Florence, Bébéar Cécile, Ndeikoundam Ngangro Ndeindo

Publishing year: 2025

Pages: 392-403

Weekly Epidemiological Bulletin, 2025, n° 19-20, p. 392-403

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