Asymptomatische sexuell übertragbare Infektionen bei Frauen

The provision of care for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in Germany is not transparent, STIs are still associated with negative prejudices and patients would like to have a physician to talk to. The most common bacterial and parasitic STIs are usually asymptomatic in women and can lead to serious long-term sequelae if left untreated. A sexual history should be taken at each initial consultation as a minimum. Patients should also be offered an appropriate STI test and vaccination as a preventative measure. After change of partner or if engaging in more than five risk contacts per year, testing for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and STIs should be carried out using serological parameters and self-swabs. Testing can be billed on a budget-neutral basis. In addition to antibiotic therapy, partner testing, monitoring the success of therapy and abstinence recommendations should be considered. Targeted referral strategies should be developed to complement care provided by general practitioners.