Page last updated: 29-JUL-2008

Sexual Health

National Statistics. Link to further information on National Statistics.Statistical Publication Notice

29 July 2008

Genito-urinary Medicine Statistics, year ending December 2007

INTRODUCTION

Data on Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) diagnosed in Scottish Genito-urinary Medicine (GUM) clincs have been continuously collected since 1922.  There have been several revisions to the data gathered and the way that this has been collected over time, with the latest revision being April 2004.  That revision allowed more detailed information on screening and HIV testing to be collected.
 
It should be stressed that the data in this publication are for STIs diagnosed in Scottish GUM clinics only, and therefore do not give the complete picture.  Health Protection Scotland (HPS) publish quarterly and annual returns on laboratory data for four of the main STIs - chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis and genital herpes. HPS figures show that more than 50% of chlamydia is now diagnosed outwith GUM clinics.  This is not so apparent in the other three conditions, with the total number of diagnoses being similar in both GUM and laboratory datasets.

KEY POINTS

  • There was a 13% increase in the overall workload (all diagnoses, consultations, screens and conditions seen) in GUM clinics in Scotland in 2007.
  • In 2007, the number of acute STIs diagnosed in GUM clinics in Scotland was 22,906.  This is an increase of 7% since 2006, when there were 21,461 dianoses made, and a 110% increase since 1996, when there were 10,919 diagnoses of acute STIs.
  • In 2007, as seen in previous years, more new acute STIs were in men, with the number of diagnoses of syphilis, gonorrhoea, genital warts, NSGI (non-specific genital infection), non-chlamydial, HIV and other STIs being higher in men than women.  The number of diagnoses of chlamydia, genital herpes and trichomoniasis was greater in women.
  • A more detailed report, including analyses based on amalgamated GUM and laboratory data together with more specialised data relating to HIV and other areas of sexual health, is to be published at the end of November.  It will be available on ISD's website.

INTERPRETATION

This release represents only part of the picture as a number of STIs are frequently diagnosed in other health settings: mainly GP surgeries and Family Planning clinics.  For example around two thirds of women diagnosed with chlamydia are seen at Family Planning clinics or by their GP. 
 
Since the publication of the Scottish Government sexual health strategy (Respect and Responsibility: Strategy and Action Plan for Improving Sexual Health), there is greater awareness and subsequently increased testing carried out for STIs.  This may account for some of the increase in certain diagnoses e.g. chlamydia.

DETAILED FINDINGS

Detailed findings on GUM data and amalgamated GUM/laboratory data is to be published in an annual Scottish Sexual Health Information report  to be released on 25th November 2008.

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MAIN CONTACTS:

Etta Shanks
Maternity & Neonatal Team Lead
0131 275 6761
etta.shanks@nhs.net

Dr Jim Chalmers (Consultant in Public Health Medicine)
Head of Women & Children's Health Information Programme
0131 275 6136
jim.chalmers@nhs.net

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GLOSSARY:

STI - sexually transmitted infection
GUM - genito-urinary medicine
HIV - human immunodeficiency virus
NSGI - non-specific genital infection
 
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PRE-RELEASE ACCESS TO THIS PUBLICATION WAS GIVEN TO:

Scottish Government
Clinical leads in GUM clinics
NHS Board Chief Executives
Directors in Public Health
 
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HISTORY OF THIS PUBLICATION:

Last Published: 29 July 2008Next Due: 28 July 2009
Data Avaliable Since: Episode-based data on sexually transmitted infections (STIs) diagnosed at Genito-urinary Medicine clinics in Scotland are available on ISD's website from 1996.
Aggregate STI data prior to 1996 are available from ISD on request.

 


Main contact: Email Etta Shanks