sexually transmitted diseases

Adolescent-Centered Sexual and Reproductive Health Communication

Author/s: 
Bianca A Allison, Tracey A Wilkinson, Julie Maslowsky

This JAMA Insights explores how clinicians can effectively communicate person-centered health care information to adolescents regarding sexual and reproductive health, contraception, and sexually transmitted infection testing and treatment.

Doxycycline Postexposure Prophylaxis to Prevent Bacterial Sexually Transmitted Infection

Author/s: 
John Flores, Andrew M Davis, Aniruddha Hazra

This JAMA Guidelines Synopsis summarizes the 2024 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines on use of doxycycline postexposure prophylaxis (doxyPEP) for bacterial sexually transmitted infection prevention.

Adolescent-Centered Sexual and Reproductive Health Communication

Author/s: 
Bianca A Allison, Tracey A Wilkinson, Julie Maslowsky

This JAMA Insights explores how clinicians can effectively communicate person-centered health care information to adolescents regarding sexual and reproductive health, contraception, and sexually transmitted infection testing and treatment.

Antiretroviral Drugs for Treatment and Prevention of HIV in Adults: 2024 Recommendations of the International Antiviral Society-USA Panel

Author/s: 
Rajesh T Gandhi, Raphael J Landovitz, Paul E Sax, Davey M Smith

Importance: New data and new antiretroviral drugs and formulations continue to become available for the prevention and management of HIV infection.

Objective: To provide updated recommendations for HIV treatment and clinical management and HIV prevention.

Methods: A panel of volunteer expert physician scientists were appointed to provide updated consensus recommendations for 2024. Relevant evidence in the literature since the last report was identified from PubMed and Embase searches (which initially yielded 3998 unique citations, of which 249 were considered relevant); from ongoing monitoring of the literature by the panel members; from data submitted by product manufacturers; and from studies presented at peer-reviewed scientific conferences between June 2022 and October 2024.

Findings: Antiretroviral therapy continues to be recommended for all individuals with HIV. For most people with HIV, initial regimens composed of an integrase strand transfer inhibitor (InSTI), specifically bictegravir or dolutegravir, with 2 (and in some cases 1) nucleoside or nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors are recommended. Recommendations are made for those with particular clinical circumstances, such as pregnancy and active opportunistic diseases, as well as for those unable to take InSTIs. Regimens may need to be changed for virologic failure, adverse effects, convenience, or cost, among other reasons. Long-acting injectable therapy is available for those who prefer not to take daily oral medications and for people struggling with adherence to daily therapy. Recommendations are provided for laboratory monitoring, management of substance use disorders and weight changes, as well as use of statins for cardiovascular disease prevention. For HIV prevention, oral (daily or intermittent) and injectable long-acting medications are effective options for people at increased likelihood of HIV exposure. Further, new tools for maintaining health and well-being among people with HIV, such as doxycycline postexposure prophylaxis to avert sexually transmitted infection, and strategies to treat substance use disorders, are recommended. Disparities in HIV acquisition and care access are discussed and solutions proposed.

Conclusions: New approaches for treating and preventing HIV offer additional tools to help end the HIV epidemic, but achieving this goal depends on addressing disparities and inequities in access to care.

Sexually Transmitted Infections Treatment Guidelines, 2021

Author/s: 
Workowski, K. A., Bachmann, L. H., Chan, P. A., Johnston, C. M., Muzny, C. A., Park, I., Reno, H., Zenilman, J. M., Bolan, G. A.

The term “sexually transmitted infection” (STI) refers to a pathogen that causes infection through sexual contact, whereas the term “sexually transmitted disease” (STD) refers to a recognizable disease state that has developed from an infection. Physicians and other health care providers have a crucial role in preventing and treating STIs. These guidelines are intended to assist with that effort. Although the guidelines emphasize treatment, prevention strategies and diagnostic recommendations also are discussed.

This report updates Sexually Transmitted Diseases Treatment Guidelines, 2015 (1) and should be regarded as a source of clinical guidance rather than prescriptive standards. Health care providers should always consider the clinical circumstances of each person in the context of local disease prevalence. These guidelines are applicable to any patient care setting that serves persons at risk for STIs, including family planning clinics, HIV care clinics, correctional health care settings, private physicians’ offices, Federally Qualified Health Centers, clinics for adolescent care, and other primary care facilities. These guidelines are focused on treatment and counseling and do not address other community services and interventions that are essential to STI and HIV prevention efforts.

These STI treatment guidelines complement Recommendations for Providing Quality Sexually Transmitted Diseases Clinical Services, 2020 (2) regarding quality clinical services for STIs in primary care and STD specialty care settings. This guidance specifies operational determinants of quality services in various clinical settings, describes on-site treatment and partner services, and indicates when STI-related conditions should be managed through consultation with or referral to a specialist.

Sexually Transmitted Infections

This collection features the best content from AFP, as identified by the AFP editors, on sexually transmitted disease and related issues, including chlamydia, genital herpes, gonorrhea, human papillomavirus, and syphilis. New research may affect the interpretation and application of this material. Clinical judgment is advised. Note that AFP content published within the past 12 months is accessible to AAFP members and paid subscribers only. 
Note: This topic collection does not include human immunodeficiency virus (see separate topic collection on HIV/AIDS) or hepatitis (see separate topic collection on Hepatitis and Other Liver Diseases).

Subscribe to sexually transmitted diseases