Counseling to prevent HIV infection and other sexually transmitted diseases. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.

Abstract

Clinicians should take a complete sexual and drug use history on all adolescent and adult patients. Sexually active patients should be advised that abstaining from sex or maintaining a mutually faithful monogamous sexual relationship with a partner known to be uninfected are the most effective strategies to prevent infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or other sexually transmitted diseases. Patients should also receive counseling about the indications and proper methods for using condoms and spermicides in sexual intercourse and about the health risks associated with anal intercourse. Intravenous drug users should be encouraged to enroll in a drug treatment program and should be warned against sharing drug equipment or using unsterilized needles and syringes. All patients should be offered testing in accordance with recommendations on screening for syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydial infection, genital herpes, hepatitis B and HIV infection.