STI consumer guide

Sexually transmitted infections. 3rd ed.

David Barlow. New York: Oxford University Press, 2011 (134 pp, $29.95). ISBN 9780199595655.

This slim book was first published in 1979 and this is its third edition. It is squarely aimed at the consumer who has an interest in sexually transmitted infections (STIs) — including HIV infection — and attempts to give “the facts” about these infections while dispelling myths and giving practical advice about diagnoses and treatments. The information presented is succinct and generally up to date, although the section on HIV and its treatments is already a little dated given the incredibly rapid changes that occur in this dynamic field of medicine.

The 13 chapters deal with common and less common STIs such as gonorrhoea, non-specific urethritis (including Chlamydia trachomatis and Mycoplasma genitalium), genital herpes, genital warts, syphilis, “tropical” infections, viral hepatitis and HIV/AIDS. In addition, there is a chapter on “Understanding your results”, which grapples with the complexities of epidemiology, ascertainment bias and sensitivity and specificity. The author’s writings on these topics are generally quite comprehensible, although it is unlikely that many lay readers will grasp the subtleties involved in interpreting all test results after reading this chapter — lord knows, many physicians have difficulties grasping these complexities!

The tone of the book is generally witty, though the avuncular style can grate somewhat at times. Moreover, the book is aimed at people living in the United Kingdom and may not be of much relevance to those outside the UK. References to general practitioners referring on for most STI problems (when the majority of Australian GPs will diagnose and treat the common conditions very competently without needing to refer to specialists), “GUM” clinics and “lavatory seats” mark the book as very British indeed. Oddly, the humorous cartoons scattered throughout the chapters feature men with a surfeit of hair (including some very retro sideburns) and a predilection for flared trousers, firmly placing the decade of their drawing as the 1970s — they look very dated in 2011.

Lastly, the first line of chapter 1 didn’t enamour me to the book, either, claiming that “The UK is one of three countries, with Ireland and Malta, which recognise management of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) as a separate medical specialty”. I suspect the author has overlooked Australia and New Zealand and our longstanding Chapter of Sexual Health Medicine in this claim.