Attendance by older patients at a genitourinary medicine clinic

To determine how patients aged 50 and above had been referred to a department of genitourinary medicine (GUM), why they had attended, their sexual histories, and what diagnoses were made. To identify any special sexual health needs in this group of patients.

A case note review was undertaken of all patients aged 50 and over attending the Portsmouth GUM department over a 3 month period.

There was a marked difference in reason for attendance between men and women in this older age group. Men were more likely to attend for a sexual health screen, often with minimal or no symptoms, following an extramarital or casual liaison. Women more commonly had symptoms causing difficulties with sexual intercourse with their regular partner.

Older people present to GUM departments with a wide range of sexually associated problems. The diagnostic and management expertise available in GUM departments makes them ideal providers of sexual health care for this as well as younger age groups.