Paying the price: health care and prostitution

It is estimated that approximately 80 000 women in the UK work as prostitutes (Home Office, 2004). However, this figure must be treated with caution, as it must be a gross underestimation of the real figure and neglects to include children and men who also work as prostitutes. It appears that the Home Office (2004) also make a gross underestimation of the numbers of men, 8.5%, who are reported as having paid for sex in the last 5 years; these men are not a clearly defined group and some men will not disclose participating in commercial sex. The media have reported recently that the current Government is considering the