Preventive Health Care for Women

Chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis:

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends that sexually active women or pregnant women 24 years old or younger or those at high risk should be screened for chlamydia and the same population 25 years old or younger should be screened for gonorrhea (37). All pregnant women should also be screened for syphilis infection (23). High risk is considered by the USPSTF as history of STD (sexually transmitted disease), or have new or multiple sexual partners with inconsistent condom use whether pregnant or not. For women not at increased risk, the USPSTF recommends against routine screening for chlamydial and gonorrhea infection for all women aged 25 and older. The USPSTF also notes that a higher prevalence of infection is seen in African-American women, Hispanic women, incarcerated populations, military recruits, and patients at public STD clinics. These patients may also be given higher priority to be screened for chlamydial and gonorrhea infection. (37)