WHY VIRGINS ATTEND SEXUALLY-TRANSMITTED DISEASE CLINICS

We sought to ascertain the reasons why virgins might attend sexually t ransmitted disease (STD) clinics. The medical records of 31 patients ( 18 males and 13 females) attending a major public STD clinic and who d eclared no lifetime sexual partners were examined. Nine subjects were concerned about genital anatomical variation while 3 had non-STD genit al pathology (urinary tract infection, non-specific genital dermatosis , vaginismus). Six attended for human immunodeficiency virus antibody testing and 3 for hepatitis-related reasons. Of 6 children, 5 were scr eened for congenital syphilis and the other had genital warts. Three o lder patients (aged 34-38) presented with genital symptoms as part of a previously diagnosed psychosis. One prostitute who attended for a 'c ertificate' had never had penetrative sex. Most attendances in this st udy were appropriate and reflect the increasing recognition of STD cli nics as appropriate centres for a wide range of non-STD genital and se xual problems.