Combining GUM and contraceptive services for young people: profile of an innovative clinic (GUM = genitourinary medicine)

The 1990s have witnessed a growth in specialist family planning provision for adolescents including advisory clinics for young people. However there has been no parallel development of teenager-friendly genitourinary medicine (GUM) services despite the prevalence of sexually transmitted disease (STDs) in the adolescent age group. This article profiles a young person's clinic in Morecambe, UK which operates a combined family planning/GUM clinic one night a week in a multi-agency, 'shop front', youth project. Attendances are high, particularly amongst young teenagers and males. The clinic enjoys a 66 per cent follow up rate and 11 per cent of clients had crossed over from one service to the other on succeeding visits. Seventeen cases of chlamydia had been diagnosed, nine to females under 18. The benefits of a 'one stop' clinic and the youth project location are discussed.