Sexual Health Information

Within this Trust, the Department of Genitourinary Medicine, often known as GUM, provides advice and help for sexual health matters at Southport and Formby DGH.

For directions on how to find us, click here.

For additional information on your sexual health, visit www.sda.uk.net.

Some of the staff at the clinic

GUM Staff Mike Abbott
 Dr Mike Abbott - Consultant
Carolyn Rigg
 Dr Carolyn Rigg - SHO
Laura Glascott
 Laura Glascott - Staff Nurse

What services are provided by GUM?

We provide:

Who can come to the service?

Anyone can use GUM services, regardless of age, gender, sexual orientation, ethnic group, country of origin, religious conviction, disability, social standing, occupation or any other arbitrary distinction. We would hope that anyone attending would feel equally and warmly welcome – that is certainly what we try to do.  We help everyone, judge no one and the service is confidential.

Do I have to go to my GP first?

Not usually.  Many people do see us after chatting with their GP or practice nurse first, but probably most people contact us directly.  Regardless of how you get to see us, we would hope that you find the experience of attending helpful and positive.

So I can just turn up?

In the mornings, yes.  We offer walk in clinics each morning and the doors open at 8.40am (please arrive before 11am).  Appointment clinics are mainly held in the afternoon and we currently have two evening clinics.

The clinic times do change occasionally, so we suggest you ring first – that way we can assess your problem and advise you over the phone and arrange to see you at the best time for you.  Many people are very worried when they first ring, so it’s helpful that we are able to give some advice on the phone.   When you ring, if we cannot give you an appointment within 48 hours, we will always offer to see you in the next walk-in clinic. 

Male patients ~ it is very important that you do not pass urine for at least 2 hours before attending. 
To arrange an appointment, please ring the direct number 01704 513303. 

What sort of sexually transmissible infections (STIs) are there?

There are quite a few ~ some, such as HIV, are very serious and STIs may cause complications.  For certain infections, sex is virtually the only means of transmission, whereas others can be passed on in different ways (e.g. by close physical contact or by contact with infected blood).

Sexually transmissible infections usually cause no symptoms and people often do not realise that they have the infection or are at risk.  The infections are usually (but not always) fairly easy to treat. 

Some infections that are not sexually transmitted can be worse after sex – thrush would be an example. The symptoms of infections that are always, sometimes or never sexually transmitted often overlap and they can be confused with other causes (such as gynaecological problems).  So, if you are concerned about the possibility of a sexually transmissible infection, and would like this diagnosing or excluding, feel free to contact us.  Whether or not you discuss this with your GP first is up to you.

Sexual Health ClinicWhat is a visit to a GUM clinic like? 

To find out more about what a visit to a GUM clinic is like, go to  http://www.gumnewcastle.nhs.uk this website is for the GUM service in Newcastle and it includes an A-Z of STIs.  It also lists useful websites for further information.

What facilities are there at the clinic? 

We have recently had an extension to the clinic and the facilities are very pleasant and relaxing.  The department has its own dedicated entrance, which is near to the rear car park B.  Since completion of the extension, we have been able to provide extra clinics and improve access. 

What about confidentiality?

The service is confidential and your clinic records are completely separate from the rest of the hospital or your GP.  We cannot pass on information about you to any third party (such as your GP or other doctors or nurses) without your permission.  There are occasional exceptions to this rule (e.g. when an individual is in danger or to ensure urgent treatment), but you should be confident of how seriously confidentiality is taken in Genitourinary Medicine clinics. 

If you are less than 18, you have the same rights to confidentiality as anyone else and you should expect the same care and treatment from doctors and nurses.  Click here for details. Your welfare is our first concern.

Chlamydia screening

Chlamydia is the country’s most common bacterial sexually transmitted infection and young people are particularly at risk of becoming infected.  One of the reasons for this is that people with chlamydia usually do not have symptoms, so they often do not realise they have an infection.

The National Chlamydia Screening Programme has recently been extended to cover all of Sefton and West Lancashire.  The programme is for sexually active people between 16 – 24 years old. 

Although chlamydia is common in sexually active young people, it is no respecter of age.  That’s hardly surprising, because people don’t stop having sex on their 25th birthday!  For the 5 year period from 1 Jan 2002 – 31 December 2006, of the 1,995 cases of chlamydia treated in the Southport Department of Genitourinary Medicine, just over 30% were in people aged 25 or more.

Being tested for chlamydia is quick and easy and in most cases will involve just giving a urine sample. Treatment is also simple and often a course of antibiotics will clear the infection. However, if left untreated chlamydia can progress to various health problems.  In women, it can cause chronic pelvic pain and lead to pelvic inflammatory disease, ectopic pregnancy and even infertility, while men may suffer pain and swelling and the infection can also lead to arthritis.

All main family planning centres across Sefton now offer chlamydia screening alongside other contraception and reproductive care services. Find your nearest family planning clinic by visiting the Sefton PCT website:
http://www.seftonpct.nhs.uk/your_health_services/family_planning_services.asp

Clinics in Central Lancashire can be found on the Central Lancashire PCT website:
http://www.centrallancashire.nhs.uk/centrallancsPortal/portal/cn/PatientServices/clinics