Genitourinary medicine at the frontline: postcard from Basra

This is a personal account of a genitourinary medicine (GUM) physician deployed in the field hospital during the Iraq conflict in Basra. Historically sexually transmitted infections (STIs) have posed major threats to military operations as they can have significant impact on the fighting capacity of the soldiers. The GUM department was one of the busiest departments in the field hospital. Most of the STIs seen among the soldiers were acquired in the UK prior to deployment and while away on rest and recuperation leave. The most common infection seen was genital warts.