Iran war could lead to STI surge in the UK as doctor issues severe warning to public

Ongoing tensions with Iran could lead to a spike in Brits contracting sexually transmitted infections; here's why.

Although the US is not actively striking Iran at this current moment, the Middle Eastern nation continues to blockade the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway in which 20 percent of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas passes through.

And the fallout of the restrictions in trade is clear, with Brits facing a spike in the price of petrol and a looming jet fuel crisis, which could make travelling abroad over summer pretty difficult.

But did you know it could also lead to an increase in STIs circulating?

Now, a shortage of gas and jet fuel may seem like it has absolutely nothing to do with contraceptives, but last month, Malaysian firm Karex - a company which produces the contraceptives for companies such as Durex, Trojan and the NHS - announced that a disruption of plastic supply will cause prices to inflate.

(Peter Dazeley via Getty Images)

And to no one's surprise, this means the cost of buying the rubber contraceptive will increase in price, a situation which Karex chief executive Goh Miah Kiat had warned about at the time.

A doctor has now warned that this could lead to an increase in sexually transmitted infections, as Brits will be less willing to spend money on condoms. "This rise in cost may seem relatively small, but for many people, particularly younger individuals or those on lower incomes, it can absolutely act as a barrier," GP Nikki Ramskill, founder of The Female Health Doctor Clinic, previously explained to Metro.

As things stand, condoms from brands such as Durex are available from £9.99 per pack, a figure which could rise in the coming months as materials become harder for manufacturers to get their hands on.

According to a recent report from CNN, the blockage in the Strait of Hormuz has led to:

• a 20 to 30 percent increase on packaging
• a 30 percent increase in latex
• a 25 percent increase on condom lubricant
• a 100 percent price increase on the non-latex condom material nitrile.

Rising condom prices could see more Brits decide to risk unprotected sex (Getty Stock Images)

This means that a pack currently costing £10 could soon cost £13 in the following months.

"When contraception becomes less accessible, even in subtle ways, behaviour changes."

Noting that condom usage in the UK is already considered to be 'inconsistent', especially in casual encounters, a rise in prices could see fewer people bothering to rubber up.

"If fewer people are using condoms because of cost, we could see a knock-on effect with rising STI rates," she added.