Sexual health challenges rising in Armenia

On Sexual Health Day, experts stress the importance of awareness, safe behavior and equal opportunities in reproductive health.

According to the Heratsi Analytical Center, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) remain a growing concern in Armenia and across the South Caucasus. Since 1988, Armenia has recorded 6,287 HIV cases, 2,829 AIDS cases and 1,392 related deaths. In 2023, syphilis cases rose to 710, a 1.6-fold increase compared to 2021. Most cases are reported among men, with the highest infection rates in people aged 18–24.

Chlamydia remains Europe’s most common bacterial STI, with over 230,000 cases in 2023, while rising drug resistance in gonorrhea poses new treatment challenges. Experts link these trends to risky sexual behavior.

The region also faces high abortion rates, though Armenia has seen a sharp decline from 2.6 abortions per woman in 1999 to 0.6 in 2016, the steepest drop in the Caucasus.

Specialists highlight that comprehensive sex education beginning in early childhood and adapted to age plays a key role in prevention. Parents, schools, healthcare providers and communities must work together to provide accurate information, as silence often drives young people to unreliable sources.