A Consultation on sexually transmitted diseases (STD) as a potential risk factor for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)1 transmission was convened by the World Health Organization's Global Programme on AIDS (GPA) and Sexually Transmitted Disease Programme (VDT) from 4–6 January 1989 in Geneva. A total of 32 participants from 21 countries participated, including experts in public health, epidemiology, biomedical and social science aspects of STD and AIDS.