Box 2.

Perceptions of stigma associated with sexually transmitted infections (place of attendance in parentheses)

• Feelings on initially attending the clinics
• I was all very shy when I went in [to the clinic] I think. When you go you feel—well, I felt really dirty because, because it's an STD [sexually transmitted disease] basically and I thought people like me don't get these kind of things. (Respondent 2, family planning clinic)
• Feelings of stigma associated with the genitourinary medicine clinic
• In all honesty, like I always imagined that [the clinic was] like . . . this is terrible, this is totally judgmental, but, like seedy, seedy people and people that are . . . not prostitutes, I wouldn't go as far as to say that, but just a lot . . . that sort of place, you know, like filthy men go and a lot of men sitting about. ‘Cos I mean, I don’t sleep about and that's why, like, why do I have to go to one of these places, you know. I guess you have like a preconceived idea about what it's gonna be like and it was totally fine. (Respondent 4, genitourinary medicine clinic)
• Reaction to diagnosis
• BD: How did you feel?
• A: Absolutely gob smacked . . . Totally shocked.
• BD: When they [clinic staff] said they thought there was something wrong, what did you think was wrong?
• A: I don't know. . . . that way I was I knew there was something wrong but I suppose it was the kind of last thing that you think about.
• BD: Had you been having any symptoms or anything?
• A: Uhuh, I'd been in like quite a bit of pain. (Respondent 1, genitourinary medicine clinic)
• Disclosing diagnosis to others
• You don't phone up everyone and say I've got a sexually transmitted disease you know, I'm not feeling too good come round and see me, cheer me up . . . From that point of view you feel very isolated because you can't really talk about it, I suppose you could but you know other people's reactions would put you off talking about it. (Respondent 3, genitourinary medicine clinic)