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Prevention of Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Discussion: Prevention of Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Overview
There are several effectiv strategies to prevent the transmission of STIs which vary by the nature and transmission mechanism of the organism. More than 30 different bacteria, viruses and parasites are known to be transmitted through sexual contact, including vaginal, anal and oral sex. Some STIs can also be transmitted from mother-to-child during pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding.
Abstinence and the maintenance of a mutually monogamous relationship with an uninfected partner are two of several strategies that decrease the risk for all STIs. Consistent and correct use of barrier methods reduce the risk of transmission of some infections, such as HIV, chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis. Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) and hepatitis rates are significantly decreased by vaccination. Treatment as prevention (TasP) pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) are effective strategies for preventing the transmission of HIV. Sex toys and prostheses may serve as a vehicle for STI transmission and should be used with a condom or properly cleansed between each use. Patients with more than one sexual partner or who are otherwise in non-monogamous sexual relationships may consider multiple safer sex strategies such as limiting total number of partners or partners with unknown sexual health history in addition to other strategies detailed above. Family physicians should proactively counsel patients about these strategies and prescribe PrEP and PEP for HIV as a routine part of STI prevention. Congenital and perinatal infections may be reduced through appropriate counseling, screening, diagnosis, and treatment of pregnant and breastfeeding individuals. https://www.aafp.org/about/policies/all/prevention-sti.html
