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The article details how the introduction of penicillin in 1943 as treatment for syphilis influenced venereology and sexual healthcare delivery systems in mid-20th century Great Britain. Topics discussed include the change in public perception that venereal disease is a public threat and deserves fewer resources for control, the drastic reduction in syphilis cases in the late 1940s and early 1950s, and the factors behind the rise in syphilis cases during the late 1950s and early 1960s.

The article presents public awareness campaign posters depicting development of syphilis cures in Great Britain from 1941 to 1945.

The article describes how the introduction of penicillin revolutionized venereology care in Great Britain from 1944 to 1964.

Objectives: Population-representative studies of the sexual health of middle-aged and older adults are lacking in ageing societies. This study aimed to identify latent patterns of sexual behaviours and health of people aged 45-74 years., Methods: We conducted a latent class analysis of the National Attitudes and Sexual Lifestyles Survey (Natsal-3), a nationally representative survey conducted in Britain in 2011., Results: Of the 5260 respondents aged 45-74 years, 48.86% of men and 44.91% of women belonged to the Content Caseys class who reported good sexual health. The Infrequent Indigos (30.94% of men, 44.38% of women) were characterised by a lack of sexual activity, reported some dissatisfaction, and were more likely to have a disability. The Low-Functioning Lees (11.65% of men, 8.41% of women) reported some more disability and had issues with sexual functioning and higher levels of distress. The Multiple-Partnered Morgans (8.62% of men, 2.30% of women) were characterised by a greater number of sexual partners and several risk behaviours., Conclusions: The use of these four classes can aid in improved targeting of tailored sexual health services to improve sexual function, sexual satisfaction, reduce distress and risky behaviours among middle-aged and older adults. These services should be inclusive of the disabled community., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2023. Re-use permitted under CC BY. Published by BMJ.)