The number of cases of sexually transmitted diseases have reached a 10-year high in the UK.

Government figures released yesterday showed that rates of chlamydia and gonorrhoea have risen dramatically during the past five years.

Experts have warned that complacency about safe sex messages has led to soaring rates of infection among young women and gay men and could mean that more people will suffer long-term problems including infertility.

Chlamydia cases have risen by 76 per cent since 1995 from 32,371 to 56,855 last year. Gonorrhoea cases rose by 55 per cent, from 10,598 to 16,470. Syphilis increased by 54 per cent and genital warts rose by 20 per cent.

Dr Kevin Fenton of the Public Health Laboratory Service said: "The main groups of concern are young women, who experience the highest rates of infection with gonorrhoea and chlamydia, and gay and bisexual men, in whom syphilis infections have doubled.

"It suggests that changes in sexual behaviour thought to be related to the extensive safer sex messages in the wake of the HIV epidemic have not been sustained.

"People must be aware of the serious long-term effects of these infections, such as pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility or ectopic pregnancy."

Meanwhile this week's British Medical Journal is asking if GPs should be preaching sexual abstinance to teenagers in an effort to cut sexually transmitted diseases and teenage pregnancies.

Abstinence makes sense and is effective, argues Trevor Stammers, a tutor in general practice and an author and broadcaster on sexual health.

Research shows that early intercourse carries greater risks and sexually active teenagers are more likely to be emotionally hurt and have an increased risk of depression and suicide. Abstinence programmes in the US have resulted in "a sharp reduction in the number of pregnancies".

He concludes that easily available contraception and more explicit sex education at an earlier age are tired and inadequate responses to tackling teenage sexual health problems.

But Roger Ingham, a researcher on sexual conduct and sex education, believes the answer lies in promoting greater openness about young people's sexuality.

He argues that an abstinence policy does not tackle the issue of peer group pressure and risks making teenagers feel even more alienated from adults and less likely to use the services available. He cites figures from Norway, Sweden and the Netherlands which all have fewer teenage pregnancies and an earlier, more open approach to sexual issues in schools and families.