New cases of gonorrhea and Chlamydia are on the rise in Australia, particularly among young members of indigenous communities.

According to researchers from the University of New South Wales (NSW), gonorrhea cases went up 25 per cent compared to 2010 while for the same period Chlamydia rose 17 per cent. The numbers were based on HIV, viral hepatitis and sexually transmitted infections report released Tuesday by the University of NSW's Kirby Institute.

New Chlamydia cases reached 74,305 in 2010, while gonorrhea peaked at more than 10,000.

Kirby Institute Associate Professor David Wilson partly attributed the rise in new cases to more people undergoing tests as response to public education programs.

"However, what we are seeing right now is the rate of diagnosis is surpassing the rate of testing so that indicates there's an increase in overall infection levels.... So there's an epidemic," Mr Wilson told News.com.au.

The two diseases are acquired by having sex with an infected partner. Although it could be treated with antibiotics, Chlamydia and gonorrhea are difficult to diagnose because of lack of symptoms on infected people.

However, if the infections are not treated, it could lead to pelvic inflammatory diseases in women which lead to infertility. Wilson blamed the rise to males failing to practice safe sex through the use of condoms.

Chlamydia victims were mostly young heterosexuals, while gonorrhea was more common among men who have sex with men. Eighty per cent of the new cases for both diseases were among young people in the age ranges 15 to 29, particularly among aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders.

The researchers sought new initiatives on the part of the federal government to encourage Australians to undergo regular screening.