Worried?
If you think you may have an infection, you should go and have a chat with your doctor, or visit a Genito-Urinary Medicine clinic (GUM clinic) (which are available at most large hospitals) where you can have a checkup and treatment (if needed) for free. Just remember - that all GUM clinics treat all information as confidential. Unless you give your permission, not even your GP will know that you've gone to these clinics for testing or treatment.
What is a GUM clinic?
If you think you may have a sexually transmitted infection (STI) you can go and discuss it with your doctor, however if an infection is identified, or suspected, you may be asked to see an expert at the Genito-Urinary Medicine department (GUM clinic) for further examination.
GUM clinics are also known as:
- STD (Sexually Transmitted disease) clinics
- special clinics
- VD (venereal disease) clinics
- sexual health clinics
- clap clinics
It's only GUM clinics that record routine statistics on STI's, with over half a million diagnoses being made, up and down the country each year, making them a vital service in controlling the spread of sexual infections. There are now approximately 230 clinics in the UK, offering free and confidential services and treatment for all sexually transmitted infections (STI's) including HIV. Experience of the range and quality of services will vary considerably across the country.
Can you just turn up at the clinic?
It might be worth ringing the clinic first, to see if you can just turn up without an appointment. Many clinics do offer 'drop in' service, but it will mean that you will have to queue until the next available appointment.
What will you need to do?
When you arrive at the clinic, you'll be asked to register, giving as much or as little information as you want, without having to worry about your confidentiality being breached. Special laws do exist to protect personal information that is held on GUM clinic users. If you use false information it is important to use the same details at future visits. Each person that visits the clinic will be given his or her own card with a clinic number, which should be brought to each visit. It may be possible in some clinics to ask if you can by seen by someone of a particular gender.
What will the doctor ask you?
The doctor will ask you some questions, to get a better understanding of your 'sexual history' to help them decide what investigations should be done (if any).
Questions may include:
- what are you worried about?
- how many people have you had sex with recently?
- what type of sex was it? Were your partners' male or female?
- have you had an STD in the past?
- are you on any medication?
- do you suffer from any allergies?
What examination/tests will they do?
These will vary according to a persons sex and stated sexual practice, so it's important to answer honestly to make sure nothing is overlooked. If you are unsure as to why some information is being asked, or you don't understand what they are asking, please don't hesitate to ask them to explain it more clearly.
Staff at the clinic realise that some people who go to the clinic are embarrassed or frightened about the questions or examination. Don't be intimidated by anyone or feel you shouldn't complain if you are unhappy with the service. Tests may include:
- urine test (it's best not to go to the toilet 2 hours before the test)
- cervical smear
- swabs from your urethra (tube where the urine comes out from), vagina, cervix (entrance of the womb), throat or rectum (back passage)
- blood tests for syphilis
- HIV tests are only done with a person's consent and are not done routinely.
When will you know the results?
Sometimes it's possible to tell straight away if there's an infection by direct observation with the eyes and the use of a microscope. Other tests may need to be sent off to a laboratory and it may take several days for the results to come back. You may be asked to go back to the clinic for further tests, at the end of a specified time period before a full diagnosis can be made. For example HIV and syphilis may take up to 3 months, to show up on a blood test. A full explanation of test results and relevant leaflets should be given, to back up any advice already given.
What treatment will you get?
Treatment is given free and often dispensed straightaway. A full course of antibiotics should be taken, even if the symptoms clear up halfway through.
Is there someone you can talk to?
Most clinics have a health adviser who can spend time with you, to help you understand about what exactly is going on, or advise you on what to do about your current boyfriend/girlfriend, who may also need to be examined. They may ask you for details of partners to try and control the spread of the infection, however you are not under any obligation to give this information. You may however prefer they took on the responsibility to contact partners, as you can be assured that this will be done with great tact and discretion without revealing your identity.
For further information on where your nearest GUM clinic is, contact NHS Direct Wales: 0845 46 47.
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Reproduced with kind permission of NHS Direct Wales - www.nhsdirect.wales.nhs.uk/theroom
