title: Committee opinion no. 506: expedited partner therapy in the management of gonorrhea and chlamydia by obstetrician-gynecologists.
abstract: Expedited partner therapy is the clinical practice of treating the sex partners of patients, in whom sexually transmitted infections are diagnosed, by providing prescriptions or medications to the patient to take to his or her partner(s) without the health care provider first examining the partner(s). The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists supports expedited partner therapy in the management of gonorrhea and chlamydial infections when the partner is unlikely or unable to otherwise receive in-person evaluation and appropriate treatment. The legality of expedited partner therapy is ambiguous in some states and overt legal impediments exist in others; analysis suggests that the practice is permissible in 27 states. Clinicians practicing in states where expedited partner therapy is legal should use it for eligible patients. In states, territories, and other jurisdictions where expedited partner therapy is not legal or the legal status of expedited partner therapy is unclear or ambiguous, clinicians are encouraged to advocate for its legality and implementation and work with their health departments to develop protocols for the use of expedited partner therapy. All health care providers should advocate for greater availability of sexually transmitted infection services.
mesh_terms: D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy* / Q000635:transmission; D016358:Contact Tracing / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D004282:Documentation / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D006069:Gonorrhea / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy* / Q000635:transmission; D006176:Gynecology / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records / Q000592:standards; D009774:Obstetrics / Q000592:standards; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012747:Sexual Partners; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States