Why Do I Need a GUM Clinic?

GUM clinic stands for Genito Urinary Medicine Clinic. These are also sometimes known as Sexual Health Clinics. If you have a sexual health problem, then you can either go to your GP or attend a sexual health walk in clinic.
Many people prefer the anonymity of a walk in clinic and may even prefer to attend a walk in clinic in another town.
When should you seek advice?
It is time to contact a clinic or your local GP if you experience the following symptoms

• Itching or swelling around vagina or penis
• Discharge from around vagina or penis
• Frequent urination
• Pain in urination
• Pain during sex
• Lumps or blisters around vagina or penis

Available TestingGUM clinics usually offer a variety of testing of health conditions such as:

• Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including Chlamydia, Gonorrhoea and Syphilis
• HIV testing
• Cystitis
• Genital Warts
• Genital Herpes
• Hepatitis

Additional ServiceA general walk in clinic may well be able to refer its clients to a more specific clinic such as a gay men's clinic.
In the UK, the options are to get free testing via the National Health Service (NHS) or to arrange for private testing.
Clinics offer more than just sexual health testing though. They frequently offer services such as post exposure prophylaxis. Post exposure prohylaxis is a treatment that may stop you becoming HIV positive if you have been exposed to the virus.
They may also offer HIV services for clients living with the condition and counselling for those who have suffered sexual assault.