In England and Wales, as in a number of other countries, the incidence of gonorrhoea, having lessened appreciably in the immediate post-war period, has in recent years shown a substantial rise. A variety of epidemiological factors are believed to be responsible for this, including immigration from overseas and apparently increased promiscuity among teenagers. Difficulties in laboratory diagnosis of gonorrhoea, particularly in women, and limitations in smear, culture and complement-fixation techniques also contribute to the present failure to control this disease; and the authors review the efforts being made in the United Kingdom to bring about improvements in technique.The emerging problem of lessened sensitivity of the gonococcus to penicillin is, of course, one of the greatest importance, to which, the authors believe, no more than a temporary solution can be provided by increases in therapeutic dosages.Finally, consideration is given to the preventive measures against the venereal diseases adopted in England and Wales; these are based in the main on the provision of free and confidential facilities for diagnosis and treatment.