Four Reasons Why STIs Peak In Summer

Summer brings a shift in how we live, interact, and connect with others. While many look forward to the warmer months for holidays and socialising, data shows that sexually transmitted infections consistently rise during this time of year.

Understanding the biological, environmental, and behavioral factors behind this seasonal spike is crucial for managing your sexual health. Here are the four distinct reasons why STIs peak in the summer.

1. Increased Mood, Travel, and Holiday Mindsets

More people have sex in the summer because everyone is a lot more happier and content in their lives. The sun is shining, dopamine and endorphins are higher making people happier and in better moods.

• Relaxation and Strangers: People tend to go on holiday and are more relaxed hence feeling that they would like to have more sex. They haven’t got the usual mundane stresses or anxieties they would have at home and so are wanting to have sex more. This can also make the STI rates rise.

  
  

• Risky Behaviours: There also is a correlation of people going abroad for hen and stag parties and ending up having one-night stands with random strangers. This may mean that people are less careful when it comes to practising safe sex and especially when there is alcohol involved there may be more risky behaviours.

  
  

• Travelling for Work or Play: This can also happen when travelling abroad while on holiday or for work in the summer months. More people are relaxed and happy allowing them to meet new people and again care less about their sexual health.

  
  

2. Global Prevalence, Warm Environments, and Dehydration

People may be travelling to different countries where the STI’s may be more prevalent especially if the person from say the UK has sex with a person from that specific country. According to a WHO study published in 2019, there are 376 million new infections of the most common STIs worldwide each year.

The weather can also have a huge impact on an increase in STI’s:

• Bacterial Environments: If the weather is warmer, bacteria can harbour in warm, damp environments meaning the genitals and this is cause for concern especially as most STI’s are not visible and don’t really carry any symptoms.

  
  

• Dehydration Risk: People also may not be drinking as much water and may be dehydrated which can be a cause for concern for STI’s as they are not flushing out their urinary tract as often.

  
  

3. The Biological Factor of Sunlight and Immune Cells

The sun can have a factor in increasing STI’s. According to some data from Holland, researchers found that during routine cervical cancer checks in women the Papilloma virus peaks in August.

They think this may be because the sunlight may trigger skin cancer which in turn can either make the virus stay or not when the sun is shining. It depends on that particular persons immune system and cells. They found that August was consistently the sunniest month in southern Holland, and the screening tests picked up twice as much evidence of papilloma virus infection than as in the winter. The virus fell off sharply in September.

4. Longer Days, Circadian Rhythms, and Pheromones

The days are longer, and we tend to use our circadian rhythm more than we would in the winter. This means we are spending more time with people outdoors and socially interacting more.

When we are with people in close proximity, we can smell their sweat glands meaning we are turned on by them more. Sweat contains pheromones which can improve mood and make people more sexually attracted to each other. In the winter we cant tend to smell these as much as we are not sweating.

Let's Open the Conversation

Are you planning your summer holidays, work trips, or hen and stag parties and wanting to make sure you are fully protecting your sexual health while navigating new people? Or has alcohol and relaxation ever caused you to care less about safe sex and risky behaviours in the warmer months?

Let’s have a raw, honest, and completely judgment-free discussion in the comments section below! If you want to talk openly about managing your boundaries or building up your sexual health awareness, reach out today to book a 1:1 breakthrough coaching session. Let's work together to make sure you stay safe, happy, and fully in control of your wellbeing.