What services do sexual health clinics (GUM clinics) provide?

Sexual health clinics offer a wide range of different services, including; testing and treating sexually transmitted infections, giving advice about sexual health, giving out condoms & contraception, pregnancy testing, abortion advice and so much more!

Sexual health clinics are also called genitourinary medicine (GUM), and sexual and reproductive healeth (SRH) clinics. Not all sexual health clinics offer every service, so if you are going to one for a specific reason, then it is very important to check if they can accommodate you before hand.

Who can use sexual health or GUM clinics?

Anyone can go to a GUM clinic, no matter their age. Some sexual health clinics also hold specific sessions for groups of people, including young people, and gay men and women.

Some clinics will have specific drop in times, where you can turn up without an appointment. You can also make appointments at some clinics.

What STI’s do they sexual health clinics test for?

Sexual health clinics test for various different STI’s, including chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis, and genital herpes.

There are a few different types of test, depending on what is being tested for. Tests may include; examining your genitals, anus, mouth or skin; giving a urine sample; a blood sample; swabbing your urethra; swap from throat, rectum or vagina (if you are a women); and finally some women may have an internal examination.

If you have any more questions on sexual health clinics then feel free to ask us, and one of our heath specialists will get back to you as soon as possible. If you need to find a sexual health clinic near you, then take a look at the NHS sexual health clinic finder.