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Gonorrhea screening

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Sara Mehrsefat, M.D. [2]

Overview

The U.S. Preventive Services and Task Force (USSTF) recommends screening for gonorrhea in sexually active women age 24 years and younger and in older women who are at increased risk for infection. Currently available evidence is insufficient to assess the balance of benefits and harms of screening for gonorrhea in heterosexual men. USSTF recommends at least annual screenings for gonorrhea among men who have sex with men (MSM).

Screening

The U.S. Preventive Services and Task Force (USSTF) recommends screening for gonorrhea in sexually active women age 24 years and younger and in older women who are at increased risk for infection. The table below outlines the screening recommendations for gonorrhea.[1][2][3][4]

Population Screening Recommendations
Women
  • Sexually active women under 25 years of age
  • Sexually active women age 25 years and older if at increased risk
    • Prior history of sexually transmitted infection
    • A new sex partner
    • More than one sex partner
    • A sex partner with concurrent partners
    • A sex partner who has a sexually transmitted infection
Men Who have Sex With Men (MSM)
  • At least annually for sexually active MSM at sites of contact (urethra, rectum, pharynx) regardless of condom use
  • Every 3 to 6 months if at increased risk
Pregnant women
  • All pregnant women under 25 years of age and older women if at increased risk
HIV positive patients
  • For sexually active individuals, screen at first HIV evaluation, and at least annually
  • More frequent screening may be indicated depending on individual risk behaviors and the local epidemiology

References

  1. “2015 Sexually Transmitted Diseases Treatment Guidelines (CDC)”.
  2. Workowski KA, Bolan GA. Sexually transmitted diseases treat- ment guidelines, 2015. MMWR Recomm Rep 2015;64:60–68.
  3. US preventive services task forces. Gonorrhea and chlamydia screening (2014) https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/Page/Document/ClinicalSummaryFinal/chlamydia-and-gonorrhea-screening Accessed on September 28, 2016
  4. “Gonococcal Infections Among Adolescents and Adults – STI Treatment Guidelines”.


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