Heterosexual gonorrhoea at St Thomas' - II: Sexual behaviour and sources of infection

This paper examines sexual behaviour in heterosexuals presenting to an inner-London genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinic with gonorrhoea. When comparing patients' documented sexual histories, there were notable differences between cases and a control group, especially in men. Male cases were more likely to have had both multiple sexual partners (χ2 = 18.5, P <0.001) and concurrent sexual relationships (χ2 = 15.2, P <0.001) in the 30 days preceding presentation. Unlike cases, male controls were more likely to have used a condom at last intercourse with a 'casual' partner (χ2 = 17.5, P <0.001). In an examination of the sources of infection in cases, women were far more likely to have been recipients of gonorrhoea than they were to transmit the infection. The source of their infection was most usually a regular sexual partner. In men, 'casual' and 'regular' partners and 'one night stands' were all important sources of infection. Our hypothesis that case patients would have met the sources of their infection in particular venues was not supported by the results of an original questionnaire survey.