The legal framework covering the practice of genitourinary medicine in the UK: the Venereal Diseases Regulations.

The legal framework governing the practice of genitourinary medicine is traced from 1916 to the present. The first legislation, the Public Health (Venereal Diseases) Regulations of 1916 was comprehensive, and accompanied by guidance on setting up outpatient clinics and their supporting laboratories with practical advice on taking samples to support clinical diagnosis. Confidentiality was emphasized.

Characteristics of those who repeatedly acquire sexually transmitted infections: a retrospective cohort study of attendees at three urban sexually transmitted disease clinics in England.

Background: Individuals who repeatedly acquire sexually transmitted infections (STIs) may facilitate the persistence of disease at endemic levels. Identifying those most likely to become reinfected with an STI would help in the development of targeted interventions.

Goal: To investigate the demographic and behavior characteristics of sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinic patients most likely to reattend with an STI.