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Sexual Health
Family Planning Clinic
GUM Clinic
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GENITO-URINARY MEDICINE (GUM)

Telephone: 650710

Genito Urinary Medicine (GUM) Clinic is situated within Noble’s Hospital, Braddan. Follow the signs to the Clinic, as it is well sign posted from the main hospital atrium.

Medical Staff

Nursing Staff

Administration

Clinics are held:

An appointment is recommended for all attendees. Without one we cannot guarantee seeing someone at that session. Future visits should be made by appointment before leaving. It is our aim to see patients within 30 minutes of an appointment time. A Tuesday evening clinic exists strictly by appointment only from 6.00 – 7.30 p.m.

Please let us know if you cannot make an appointment so that it can be given to someone else. You will be advised if any of your results are available over the telephone. There is a dedicated morning service for this, 9am –1 p.m.

A hospital letter for an employer confirming attendance is available upon request. It does not specify which Department was visited.

A Health Adviser is available from Monday to Friday, 9.00 a.m. – 5.00 p.m. to answer any queries you may have.

All calls are treated in the strictest confidence. GUM has a strict code of confidentiality. Any information you give is completely confidential. Clinic notes do not form part of any general medical records. A system of Personal Identification Numbers (PIN) are used instead of names, again to ensure confidentiality.

Confidentiality

A strict code of confidentiality operates within the Department to protect patients’ interests. Please ask what this means in practice, should clarification be needed. Patients can be very confident that any personal information given to us will be carefully protected. At the very least, we do require a date of birth, which we will match up with the personal clinic number. If any sexual partner needs to attend, we will discuss with you how best to arrange this. Unless you give your permission, not even your G.P. will be told you have been to the Clinic.

The Department of Genito-urinary Medicine exists to provide services for the island in relation to sexually transmissible infections and certain other conditions affecting the genital organs that will:

The staff believe that our relationship with clients should be one of mutual respect, and that the service should be as we would wish it for ourselves:

For an accessible service, we need to be flexible and adaptable. At times, we will be constrained by circumstances beyond our control yet we aim to provide an excellent service, which can balance issues of quality and quantity.

Clear communication is essential with clients, colleagues and other agencies. We hope we know our own strengths, limitations and when someone else might be of more help to a client.

What are Sexually Transmitted Infections?

During sexual contact, infections can be passed from one person to another. These infections are known as sexually transmitted infections or STI’s. Anyone who has unprotected sex can get a sexually transmitted infection from an infected person.

There are many different STI’s.

What they all have in common is that they can be spread by sex. This means:

Did you know …?

Who gets STI’s?

You don’t have to be ‘sleeping’ around to catch an STI, just about everyone who is having sex can get an infection. Even if you and your partner have been ‘faithful’ to each other for a long time, it is possible that one of you might suddenly discover an infection. This is because some infections can be in the body and yet don’t cause symptoms for a long time. Just because one partner finds an infection doesn’t have to mean that one of you has been ‘unfaithful’.

The more partners you have, the greater your chance that one of them will pass on an infection to you.

How will I know if I have a sexually transmitted infection?

Symptoms include:

But remember

Where can I get help?

The Department of Genito-Urinary Medicine (GUM) located in Noble’s Hospital, Braddan offers free confidential screening and treatment for all STI’s, including HIV. Telephone 650710 for an appointment.

You can refer yourself; you do not need to be referred by a Doctor.

What happens at the Clinic?

You will be seen by a Doctor or a Nurse who will ask you some questions about your general and sexual health. You may find some of these questions embarrassing, but it is important that you answer these questions honestly to help the staff find out which tests you may need.

These tests may include:

The Doctor or Nurse will be able to advise you on some important matters:

Our experienced team of nurses are available to talk things through with you. Health Advisers can often devote more time to explore issues of concern, i.e. meaning of tests and results, HIV testing, sexual partners, safer sex, emotional concerns, where to get further help/support.

Students of medicine and other disciplines from time to time attend the department as part of their training. This means a patient may be asked if they have any objection to their presence in a consultation. We value co-operation with this but fully understand when someone would rather this did not happen.

Results

For some tests, we give results at the first visit to the clinic, but others will only be available after a period of time. The Doctor or Nurse will indicate how long your test results will take to be available. It may be possible to have some results given by phone using our ‘Results Only’ line. It may be advised that a person returns for results and have further tests or treatment.

What if I don’t have treatment?

For women, complications can include:

Complications for men can include:

But remember …

You may pass an infection on to any new partner(s) without you even knowing.

How you can avoid STI’s

There are several things you can do which, together, help to make sex safer. If you want to avoid STI’s including AIDS, then you might find the following helpful:

Sex is a normal and healthy part of life but does need thought and preparation.

There are many different sexually transmitted infections (STI’s). What they all have in common is that they can be spread by sex.

Non specific genital infections

These are the most common infections. These are usually spread from person to person by sexual intercourse, but there are other causes. They include:

Men can develop a condition called non-specific urethritis (NSU). Various germs may be the cause of these infections. However, a germ called Chlamydia is known to be responsible for many non-specific genital infections.

Chlamydia

This is a bacterial infection. Most women and some men have no signs or symptoms in the early stages. Left untreated, it can cause serious internal damage, such as inflammation of the reproductive organs, which could lead to infertility (inability to have children). The main sign in men is a discharge from the penis. An infected pregnant woman can pass the infection on to her baby at childbirth, causing eye infections and even pneumonia.

Treatment is with antibiotics and is completely successful.

Gonorrhoea

This is caused by a bacteria, which lives in warm, moist areas, quickly dying outside the human body.

It is transmitted through sexual intercourse but can be caught through social contact, such as kissing or touching, though not from toilet seats. It can be found in the genital areas, rectum and throat. If symptoms are present, they include:

Women

Men

Antibiotic treatments are very effective. Further tests after treatment are important to make sure it has been completely cured. Complications can only occur if gonorrhoea is left untreated. In women it may cause pelvic inflammatory disease (infection of the fallopian tubes) which may affect fertility. In men the urethra and testicles can be damaged again causing infertility and sometimes chronic pain.

Syphilis

This is one of the most dangerous of all the sexual infections, if left untreated. These days it is not common and can be successfully treated by a lengthy course of antibiotics.

Routine tests for syphilis are carried out at Genito-Urinary Medicine Clinics, on all pregnant women, blood donors and on hospital patients with unexplained illnesses.

The disease has early and late stages

Hepatitis B

This is caused by a virus and is found in saliva, urine, blood and semen. It is spread by sexual contact. Symptoms may appear up to six months of being infected but can be mild and go unnoticed. Can take the form of fever, tiredness, loss of appetite, joint pains. If more severe, abdominal pain and jaundice can persist. The only treatment is plenty of rest and a healthy diet. A hepatitis B vaccine can be offered to increase a person’s immunity against this infection – three injections over six months.

Genital warts

These are caused by a virus. In all, there are over 100 different types of wart virus. Some prefer hard tissue, others prefer more soft, moist skin and can be spread in the genital area by sexual contact. Genital warts usually appear as small soft fleshy lumps and can be found in large numbers. They may cause irritation, discharge or can bleed. They are ‘painted’ with a toxic chemical or frozen off by a cold spray. There is a small link between only a few specific types of wart viruses and cervical cancer. It is not necessary for women with warts to have more regular smears than once every 3 to 5 years. After treatment, the warts can still return.

Genital herpes

An unpleasant condition caused by a virus and is similar to the virus which causes ‘cold sores’ in the mouth. It is most commonly transmitted through sexual intercourse.

Blisters develop on the penis, and around or inside the vagina. They can be very painful, itchy and burn on passing urine. No specific cure has yet been discovered for herpes. There are a number of things one can do to avoid a further attack such as rest, relaxation and a healthy diet.

Trichomonas

Known as TV for short. It is an infection caused by a parasite and is found in the urethra and vagina. It is nearly always sexually transmitted.

Women may have symptoms of a yellow discharge, irritation, soreness and pain on passing urine. Men very rarely have any symptoms. Treatment is with antibiotics.

Thrush

This is caused by a yeast-like fungus. It likes warm, moist areas. It causes severe itching and a discharge and can be passed from person to person by sex. It is effectively treated by creams, pessaries and good hygiene.

Pubic lice

These are small and live in coarse body hair only, and are often called ‘crabs’. They move slowly and need prolonged close bodily contact to be spread. They are treated with special shampoos or lotions.

HIV and AIDS

AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) is a condition caused by a virus called HIV which lives in body fluids – mainly blood, semen and vaginal fluids. The virus prevents the body’s immune system working properly, so that the body is open to attack by infection. This takes about ten years.

The virus is mainly spread through sexual intercourse without a condom. Sharing needles and syringes is also very risky.

As yet there is no cure for AIDS. However, a person can get treatment for any infection he or she may get as a result of the illness. Drugs are available which can slow down the virus that damages the immune system and these drugs keep people healthier for longer.

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