Combining GUM and contraceptive services for young people: profile of an innovative clinic

The 1990s have witnessed a growth in specialist family planning provision f or adolescents including advisory clinics for young people. However there h as been no parallel development of teenager-friendly genitourinary medicine (GUM) services despite the prevalence of sexually transmitted disease (STD s) in the adolescent age group. This article profiles a young person's clin ic in Morecambe, UK which operates a combined family planning/GUM clinic on e 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 f rom one service to the other on succeeding visits. Seventeen cases of chlam ydia had been diagnosed nine to females under 18. The benefits of a 'one st op' clinic and the youth project location are discussed.