The show was praised in the House of Commons in 2002 for its constructive approach to sexual health.
It had run a story-line in which a love rat who spread STIs around a group of girls was exposed and humiliated.
Producer Jo Hallows said that Hollyoaks' focus on teenagers gave it the responsibility to offer "moral guidance" but argued that the show had to be careful not to lose its appeal.
"If you lecture young people on issues like sexual health they simply switch off," she said.. "You have to find a different way to get the message across."
The Health Protection Agency's report shows an increase in cases of all but two STIs in 2003, and includes an alarming 28% increase in cases of syphilis.
Dr Catherine Quigley, regional epidemologist with the Health Protection Agency North West, said: "This report demonstrates very clearly that the pattern of increase in sexually transmitted
infections that we have seen in the North West is being replicated across the country.
"We are faced with a very serious situation and Britain needs to wake up and take notice. If people are going to continue to take a cavalier attitude towards sex and ignore the warnings we could be faced with a crisis.
"STIs are very serious infections that can have devastating consequences for individuals and for families."
