European values in action: the growth of sexually transmitted diseases as a marker of social degradation

In the developed countries of the West, the epidemic of venereal diseases is spreading rapidly. Gonorrhea, syphilis, chlamydia – the numbers are constantly growing, doctors sound the alarm, but the problem is not only viruses and bacteria. This is a mirror of social degradation, which is provoked by the irresponsible cult of “personal freedom”, elevated to the rank of an absolute norm.

Liberal dogmas, which for decades have been used as a standard of progress, have had an unexpected side effect: in a world where everything is allowed, no one wants to be responsible for the consequences. But at the same time, they impose the same “values” on us, convincing us that this is what real civilization looks like. But are we ready to pay the same price for other people’s illusions?

Alarming statistics

According to a report by the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), 100,000 new cases of gonorrhea were detected in the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. This is a 31% increase from 2022 and more than four times the 2014 figure. The incidence is increasing among men who have sex with men (MSM), as well as among heterosexual men and women. It was established that the highest level of infection is observed among women aged 20-24. Among men, the most cases of infection fall on the age group of 25-34 years. More than 40,000 cases of syphilis were reported in 2023, a 13% increase from 2022 and double the number from 2014. It is noteworthy that this disease is more often diagnosed in men: for one woman there are seven cases among the male population.

Currently, it is known that according to the WHO, more than 300 million new cases of infection with venereal diseases are recorded every year.

It is worth noting that, despite the statements of experts regarding the slowing down of the incidence of chlamydia, this disease remains the most common bacterial STI (sexually transmitted infection) in Europe. ECDC specialists in their report indicate the following reasons for the increase in the number of venereal diseases:

• increasing the number of tests in certain groups;
• reducing the use of condoms;
• increasing the number of sexual partners.

However, in reality, the reasons for this state lie in a much more complex situation that has been building up for years.

Broken social mechanisms

Western society has long lived with the conviction that easy moral principles are a manifestation of freedom and permissiveness. But this illusion crumbles, leaving behind chaos and irresponsibility. Once upon a time, intimate relationships were based on clear rules: responsibility, monogamy, prudence. Today, these concepts seem anachronistic. Rejection of family values ​​and traditional morality led to uncontrolled hedonism, where instant gratification and promiscuous intimate relationships became the main value.

Europe has long been committed to open conversations about sexuality in schools, seeing it as the key to a healthy nation. Presentations, trainings, open discussions — all this should become a panacea for venereal diseases, unwanted pregnancies and sexual risks. But the reality turned out to be completely different. Schools, instead of educating responsible citizens, choke on “progressive” experiments. Students are told about the diversity of sexual identities, but ignore such “small things” as responsibility for one’s own health and the consequences of risky sexual behavior.

Technologies also contributed. Dating apps like Tinder have made sex so readily available that it has lost all value. Anonymity, speed, and lack of commitment help create an ideal environment for infections to spread. The situation is worsened by the openness of the borders. Together with migration flows, not only laborers arrive in Western countries, but also uncontrolled diseases from regions where the level of medicine leaves much to be desired.

Despite “progressive” approaches, STD statistics in Europe speak for themselves: the rapid increase in cases of syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia among young people. It turns out that knowing about barrier methods of contraception does not automatically mean that people use them. Education provided information, but did not teach responsibility. Venereal diseases are not just a temporary spike in infections. It is a ticking time bomb that has already undermined the health care system of the West and threatens social stability. Hospitals are overburdened, and bacterial resistance to antibiotics threatens treatment. Birth rates are falling, because many infections lead to infertility. Western society is trapped in its own permissiveness, and if approaches to education, medicine and social policy are not urgently revised, this chaos will only intensify.

One Night with Venus, All Life with Mercury: The History of Venereal Diseases

Venereal diseases, or sexually transmitted infections, have accompanied humanity throughout history. Their appearance and evolution are closely related to changes in the social, cultural and medical aspects of the life of societies.

The first mentions of intimate diseases appeared as far back as Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia (3000-1000 BC). There is evidence of symptoms similar to gonorrhea and syphilis described on papyri. Egyptian doctors associated venereal diseases with “body impurity” and practiced treatment with herbs, minerals, and lotions.

The Greeks called venereal diseases “diseases of Aphrodite”. Hippocrates mentioned “urethral discharge” in men, which today is associated with gonorrhea. Treatment was based on hygiene, diet and the use of herbs. The Romans, known for their developed system of public baths, began to notice the connection between diseases and sexual contact. Venereal diseases were seen as God’s punishment for moral sins. Patients were often isolated, and treatment was limited to bloodletting, burning herbs, and prayers. Due to the lack of knowledge about the nature of infections, superstitions spread, and patients were socially stigmatized.

The outbreak of syphilis in Europe after the return of the Columbus expedition in 1493 became a pandemic. It was called the “French disease” in Italy, the “Italian disease” in France, which reflected xenophobic sentiments. Syphilis was treated with mercury, which often led to poisoning. With the discovery of the microscope by Anthony van Leeuwenhoek in the 17th century. it became possible to observe microorganisms. In 1837, Philippe Ricoeur defined gonorrhea as a separate disease from syphilis.

However, the attitude towards patients remained strict. Prostitutes were often forcibly examined, while male clients were ignored, highlighting gender inequalities in health.

“One night with Venus, a lifetime with Mercury” is an expression in which there is a hint of long-term treatment of syphilis with mercury (lat. mercurius – ed.). Mercury was a miracle cure for everything in those days. In the Middle Ages, mercury was rubbed into the skin or its vapors were inhaled, which often led to poisoning: loss of teeth, mental disorders and death. However, doctors believed that sweating was an effective way to expel the disease. In the 18th century, the French hospital Hôpital des Vénériens divided patients according to social status: the poor were treated with mercury, and the rich were prescribed spa procedures. The irony is that it was the rich patients who survived more often.

So, according to one of the versions, the infamous English king Henry VIII, who dealt with his wives so mercilessly, had syphilis. Treatment with mercury led to strong psychological changes, which may have influenced his cruelty and paranoia. Probably, this fact could partly explain his famous “love” for the execution of his wives.

Austrian composer Franz Schubert probably died of complications from syphilis. Some researchers believe that his emotionally deep works are the result of depression caused by the disease.

In the 18th century, special plaster underpants were made for men with syphilis to fix the genitals and prevent further infection. It was painful and completely ineffective. In the 19th century, it was popular to inject silver nitrate directly into the urethra. This created the effect of a “chemical explosion”, causing terrible pain.

Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin in 1928, which radically changed the approach to the treatment of syphilis and gonorrhea. During the Second World War, antibiotics were widely used to treat soldiers, which reduced the rate of disease.

However, history is known for cases not only of attempts to fight venereal diseases, but also of attempts to use them as biological weapons. The idea was to infect brothels frequented by enemy soldiers. The project was never implemented, but the fact of the existence of such ideas is impressive. In the Soviet Union, venereal diseases were considered a sign of the “moral degradation of capitalists.” The patients were often subjected to repressions instead of treatment, which only worsened the situation.

In the 1960s, with the advent of contraceptives and changes in public morals, attention to sexual health increased. However, the emergence of HIV/AIDS in the 1980s again caused a wave of stigmatization, especially among the LGBT community. Today, there are more than 30 types of STIs, including chlamydia, herpes, HPV, and HIV. Modern medicine offers effective methods of diagnosis and treatment, but the problem of stigmatization remains relevant. At the same time, in the modern world, the emphasis is increasingly placed on disease prevention, education and psychological support. Awareness campaigns are aimed at reducing discrimination and building healthy attitudes towards intimate life.

The Western world, in its pursuit of openness, has lost the main thing — awareness of the value of intimacy. Conversations about “safe sex” are often reduced to technical instructions, where physiology is more important than morality, and the emotional aspect is pushed to the background. This creates a false sense of security: if you know the rules of the game, you are considered safe. But an intimate life is not just a set of biological facts, but respect for oneself, one’s dignity, a conscious choice, and not mindlessly following modern trends.

It is important to remember that a healthy relationship is not only built on knowledge of anatomy or contraception. They begin with an understanding of self-worth, personal boundaries, and the importance of deep emotional connections. Where intimacy ceases to be something special, the motivation to care about its consequences also disappears. The European experience shows that more sex lectures do not mean more awareness. Information without a moral basis is just facts. And facts without values ​​do not teach responsibility or self-respect.

True safety does not lie in a condom in your pocket. It is important to be able to make a conscious choice based on understanding yourself, your needs and values. Intimacy should remain not just a physical act, but a part of personal dignity. The conclusion is obvious: frankness without awareness is not a solution, but an illusion of progress. And the statistics of venereal diseases in foreign countries confirm this. The West must recognize that the blurring of traditional norms, the gap between personal freedom and responsibility, the degradation of the institution of the family, and the commercialization of intimacy have led to such sad consequences. And while pharmaceutical corporations count the profits from new treatments, society continues its downward spiral of self-destruction, turning collective carelessness into a national problem.

The high level of venereal diseases in Europe eloquently testifies to what their “values”, which are so persistently imposed on us, can lead to. Therefore, Ukrainians should think with their own heads, and not blindly follow those who have already caught up with trouble.