DOCTORS in the region believe a greater willingness to come forward for checks is one of the reasons for a big increase in sexually transmitted infections.

New figures saw a 15 per cent surge in the five most common sexually transmitted infections (STI) - chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis, genital herpes and genital warts - in the North-East from 9,811 to 11,284.

Doctors in the region are particularly concerned at a 19 per cent increase in chlamydia, with cases increasing from 4,676 in 2005 to 5,554 last year.

Chlamydia is the most commonly diagnosed STI in the North-East, and more than seven out of ten cases are in the 16 to 24 age group.

In the Yorkshire and Humber region, the total number of all newly-diagnosed STIs increased by only 2.6 per cent, from 29,203 to 29,956.

Public health officials noted that in Yorkshire and Humber what has been a steady increase in chlamydia cases had levelled out, with only a 0.2 per cent rise from 11,103 new cases in 2005 to 11,127 new cases last year.

Genital herpes was the STI that increased most in the North-East and nationally last year, with a 28 per cent rise from 619 in 2005 to 792 last year. This is more than three times the national increase of nine per cent.

Syphilis went up 11 per cent, from 80 cases to 89 last year, and gonorrhoea was down for the fourth year running (from 554 to 529), a reduction of five per cent.

Dr Kirsty Foster, a specialist from the North-East Health Protection Agency said: "We know that the rise in new diagnoses partly reflects the increased availability of appointments at GUM (Genito-Urinary Medicine) clinics, which means more cases are being detected.

"We also know that the rise is partly due to more people coming forward for testing due to increased awareness about the risk of sexually transmitted infections."

Dr Foster said it was particularly important to be tested for chlamydia, which sometimes has no symptoms and can lead to infertility and pelvic inflammatory disease.

"Quick diagnosis is of the essence, so anyone who thinks they may have put themselves at risk of contracting an STI or who has symptoms of an STI should go to their local GUM clinic at the earliest opportunity," she said.