Funding pressures on sexual health services are driving an increase in sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and unplanned pregnancies, a new report warns.

According to Unprotected Nation, published by the Family Planning Association and Brook charities, access to contraceptive services is being rationed as part of the NHS savings agenda.

As a result, the report predicts, there will be over 90,000 additional STIs each year in the UK, including more than 75,000 chlamydia infections.

Treating these infections will cost the NHS over £300m per year, and the cost of additional unplanned pregnancies resulting from the cuts in sexual health services will be similar.

Some trusts are restricting access to NHS contraception on the basis of age or postcode, or restricting the services available.

The report also warns that the current shifting of responsibility for commissioning sexual health services from the NHS to local authorities is likely to further reduce access to these services.

Improving access to contraception and other sexual health services would save £4.4bn in NHS and local authority spending by 2020, the report concludes.

Dr Audrey Simpson, acting CEO of the FPA, commented: “Unplanned pregnancy and STIs have obvious costs to people's health and well-being, but the heavy financial costs to the NHS and welfare state are also real and serious.

“The wheels of this crisis are firmly in motion. If national and local government ignore the warnings and continue stripping away services, advice and information, the bleak predictions in this report will come true.”

Contraceptive services for women are inadequate and set to decline further with the shift to local authority control, according to a new report.

An enquiry by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Sexual and Reproductive Health in the UK found that PCTs were restricting access to contraception.

Next year, the Group said, local authorities would lack the funds and the guidance they needed to commission effective sexual health services.

The report stated there was “a clear disconnect between national ambition and local delivery” in sexual and reproductive health.

PCTs in areas including Derbyshire, Bristol and parts of London are restricting access to contraceptive services according to age or location.

Many women over 25 have to obtain contraception through GPs rather than through sexual health clinics.

A survey of lead clinicians in sexual and reproductive health found that 60% were seeing their services cut back by PCTs in order to save money.

However, when community sexual health becomes the responsibility of local government in April 2013, there could be a further downturn due to split responsibility and lack of guidance and support.

The Group’s Chair, Baroness Gould of Potternewton, commented: “Access to contraception services and contraception choice is a necessity, not a luxury. Women’s reproductive health needs to be given much greater priority.”

“Unintended pregnancy costs the NHS more than £755m every year,” said sexual health consultant Connie Smith. “For every pound spent on contraception the NHS saves £12.50, so restricting access and choice is a completely false economy.”

The report called on the DH and NHS Commissioning Board to clarify the new commissioning arrangements for sexual health services, including the ‘local enhanced services’ to be provided by GPs.

It also urged NICE to develop a national quality standard on contraception.