Exploring the sexual histories of older GUM clinic attenders

Abstract

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.

Are older people at risk of sexually transmitted infections? A new look at the evidence

“…31 A self-administered questionnaire study linked to data from patient notes was undertaken within the same three GUM clinics in the Trent region. Participants comprised 224 individuals aged 50 years and older attending the three clinics during the study period.…”

Sexual behaviour and diagnosis of people over the age of 50 attending a sexual health clinic

“…Overall, the sexual risk of older people attending SSHC was significantly higher than in previous UK reports [27]. In the UK, sexual health care is predominantly provided in public sexual health services [9], while in Australia it is provided in general practices [28].…”

“…In the UK, sexual health care is predominantly provided in public sexual health services [9], while in Australia it is provided in general practices [28]. New South Wales public sexual health services typically make brief risk and symptom assessments to ensure that patients are attending the appropriate service in order to allow access to people most at sexual risk [27]. Variations in approaches to patient triage, differences in access to health care and the absence of safe sex campaigns directed at older people might all contribute to the differences in sexual risk.…”

“…Over half of men and women had prior sexual health problems, suggesting some persistence of sexual risk into later life for these people. Other studies have revealed very low rates of HIV testing among older sexual health clinic attendees (15%) and relatively lower rates of prior sexual health problems (29%) [27].…”

A population-based study of 18-year old Swedish youths and factors correlated with their total number of lifetime sexual partners

“…Sexual behaviour and experiences included the use of drugs and/or alcohol during the last intercourse, condom use, homosexual experience, guilt and lust. Homosexual/bisexual contacts and low condom use were variables previously shown to be associated with an increased risk of acquiring an STI (9). Alcohol during sexual intercourse has been associated with risk taking and feeling forced into having Brought to you by | New York University Bobst Library Technical Services Authenticated Download Date | 6/23/15 10:56 AM sex (10).…”