Background In Poland, among STIs syphilis and gonorrhoea are reportable since 1947, non-gonococcal genitourinary infections (NGU) - 1980, HIV infections - 1985, genital herpes, and anogenital warts (AGWs) - 1990.

Methods . Analysis of data on the incidence and management of gonorrhoea, syphilis, NGU, genital herpes, AGWs and HIV infections/AIDS cases available from reports of the National Institute of Public Health and the former Institute of Venereology, Poland.

Results Gonorrhoea. The average incidence rate was 1.24 per 100000 inhabitants during 2000–2011. Culture of Neisseria gonorrhoeae remains the mainstay of diagnosis and ceftriaxone is the recommended first-line treatment. Syphilis. The mean incidence rate from 2000 to 2011 was 1.91 per 100 000 inhabitants. The number of serological tests for syphilis (STS) performed gradually diminished from 1 200 000 in 2000 to less than 100 000 in 2011. In the same period 637 cases of syphilis in pregnancy or at delivery and 119 cases of congenital syphilis were diagnosed. The number of notified NGU cases decreased from 1981 in 2000 to 484 in 2011, that of genital herpes declined from 418 to 173 in respective years, and that of reported AGWs fluctuated (range from 400 to 1400 cases per year). Since the start of testing in 1985, 16 314 cases of HIV infection and 2 848 AIDS cases have been diagnosed until 2013. About 20% of all HIV infections were related to risky heterosexual intercourse. The incidence of notified HIV infection in Poland is increasing, while the incidence of the remaining reportable STIs is declining.

Conclusions The increasing HIV incidence and decreasing number of STS along with presence of congenital syphilis cases are of major concern. The reporting system of STIs in Poland is suboptimal.