Sharp rise in cases of gonorrhea among women

But despite the increase among women, men remain more likely to be infected with the sexually transmitted disease.

In the first half of the year, 155 case were reported for heterosexual men, representing a drop of seven percent. For gay men, the decline was more marked, with 26 percent fewer cases of the disease than for the same period last year.

In total, 725 cases of gonorrhea were reported in Sweden last year, an increase of 13 percent compared to 2007. Almost half those infected were aged 20 to 29.

Gonorrhea is primarily spread through heterosexual intercourse or gay sex between two men. Cases of women infecting each other are extremely rare.