The primary study objective was to identify the prevalence of sexual activity and sexual risk-taking behaviour among a sample of older community-based adults. Secondary objectives included gathering data about past experiences of consultations regarding sexual health issues with general practitioners (GPs) and at genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics, and exploring participants' STI and HIV/AIDS-related information needs. Individuals over the age of 50 were identified from four electoral wards within Sheffield, UK by means of a postal screen based on the electoral register. Respondents self completed a short postal questionnaire. Three hundred and nineteen individuals aged over 50 years selected at random from the general population responded. Approximately 80% of respondents were currently sexually active and 7% engaged in behaviours that may place them at risk of contracting a sexually transmitted infection (STI). Risk takers were typically male, aged between 50 and 60 years and married. Being male was also related to reporting current or past sexual health concerns. In total, of 75 respondents reporting such concerns, two thirds had discussed these concerns with their GP or attended a GUM clinic. Levels of satisfaction with such consultations were generally high, but declined with increasing age. Overall, most participants felt they had not received very much information about STIs and HIV, and about one quarter reported that they would like to receive more information on these topics. These data have implications for all health and social care professionals who work with older people and indicate a potential need for education to help professionals meet the sexual health needs of their older patients/clients. Further implications for sexual health promotion and the need for additional research in this field are also discussed.

Little is known either of the factors motivating clinic attendance in later life, or the sexual health histories of older clinic attenders. A self-administered questionnaire study linked to patient note data aiming to explore these issues was undertaken within 3 genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics in the Trent region. Participants comprised 224 individuals aged 50 years and older attending the 3 clinics during the study period. The majority of study participants were attending the clinic with a suspected sexually transmitted infection (STI) (n = 145, 64.7%) and approximately half (n=119, 53.1%) were first-time GUM clinic attenders. Data available for participants recruited from the Sheffield clinic indicated that, although the majority of participants reported having had only one sexual partner during the last 12 months, a significant minority reported considerably higher numbers of partners, including those classed 'higher risk' for STI acquisition. These data indicate that older people engage in behaviours that place them at risk of STI acquisition and many attend GUM clinics for the first time in later life.

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