Health

Do I have to be over 16 to go to a GUM clinic?
You can still be seen at a GUM clinic in complete confidence if you are under the age of 16.

What is a cervical smear test?
A cervical smear test is a way to check up on the health of your cervix – the entrance to your womb (Uterus) which is situated at the top of your vagina.

Why is it important to have the smear?
The test looks for changes in the cells of your cervix. Changes happen very slowly but can lead to serious problems like cervical cancer. Cervical screening is not a test for cancer. It is a method of preventing cancer by detecting and treating early abnormalities which, if left untreated, could lead to cancer in a woman’s cervix.Around 3,000 women are diagnosed with cancer of the cervix in the UK every year. You may not experience any symptoms until the condition is at an advanced stage. If abnormal cells are noticed at screening, they can be closely observed and/or treated to prevent cancer from developing. Regular screening has been proved to reduce the occurrence of cancer by 90%.

How often should you be screened?
All women between the ages of 25 and 64 are eligible for a free cervical screening test every three to five years. Typically women should have their first test by 25 and are invited back every three years until the age of 49. Between the ages of 50 to 64 tests are every five years and after the age of 65, only those who’ve had recent abnormal tests are offered another test. These ages and time scales are a result of research to ensure a targeted and effective screening programme.
The HPV vaccine that is now given in schools helps to protect against some strains of cervical cancer. It is not effective against all forms of cervical cancer, therefore regular smear tests are still required.

Can I catch a sexually transmitted illness (STI) or get pregnant from sitting on a toilet seat?
No, there is no need to worry about this.

Can you get an STI from oral sex?
Yes you can for example chlamydia can be passed from person to person via oral sex and can exist in the back of the throat, often undetected.

Do I have to have had sex to go to a GUM clinic? Would they still test me if I haven’t had sex? Can I get condoms at the GUM clinic?
Genito-urinary medicine (GUM) deals with the male and female sexual organs and the urinary system (the system in the body that produces, stores and gets rid of urine). GUM clinics can usually give you tests for sexual and urinary health problems, such as:

  • sexually transmitted infections (STIs) e.g. syphilis, gonorrhoea, genital warts, and Chlamydia

  • HIV or AIDS

  • cystitis (bladder infection)

  • other infections of the genitals, such as thrush

GUM clinics can provide contraceptive advice, including free emergency contraception and condoms. Some clinics may also be able to fit cervical caps or diaphragms (a form of contraception), and provide cervical smear tests (a test to check for any abnormal cells in the neck of the womb). They can also offer advice and counselling on a range of sexual health issues. At most G.U.M. clinics you should be able to get information and advice about having a healthy sex life, a full range of tests for STIs and any needed relevant treatment.

You do not need to have had penetrative sex in order to go to a GUM clinic. Sexual activity, including oral sex has risks so if you are sexually active it is responsible to get checked out before you are with a new partner or if you think you have put yourself at risk. When you go to a GUM clinic, a doctor, nurse or sexual health advisor will ask some questions to build up a picture of your sexual history and help decide what tests need to be done. Quite often young people will be seen by a sexual health advisor or nurse before seeing the doctor to discuss your concerns and answer any questions that you may have.

Is it safe for two people who both have HIV to have unprotected sex?
Unprotected sex between two people who have HIV still has its risks.
Firstly, it is possible that other sexually transmitted infections can be passed from one person to the other. When a person is living with HIV some of these infections can be more serious.
There is also a concern that someone with HIV can be “re-infected” with a different strain of the virus. This new version might not be controlled by the medications the person is taking and might also be resistant to other antiretroviral drugs.