The most important step is for healthcare providers to review the STI screening guidelines to consider who and when clients should be screened for STIs.

• USPSTF - Infectious Disease Recommendations

While reviewing the STI screening guidelines and a client's history, collect the sexual health history, including sexual orientation and gender identity data, in order to provide quality care.

• NH - Taking a Good Sexual History
• CDC - Taking a Sexual History
• AETC - Sexual History Taking Toolkit
• National Coalition for Sexual Health - Sexual History Taking
• National LGBTQIA+ Health Education Center - Collecting Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) Data
• CDC - Collecting SOGI Information

Ensure you provide a behavioral and biologic risk assessment for STIs/HIV.

• A client who:
  • Has new or multiple sex partners, especially if the sex partners' sexual history is not known,
  • Is pregnant,
  • Has a sex partner with a STI, including HIV,
  • Is living with HIV,
  • Exchanges sex for money, drugs or other life needs (food, clothing, shelter, etc.),
  • Identifies as transgender,
  • Uses injection drugs (more so if the client shares injection works, i.e. needles, syringes, etc.),
  • Has sex with a person who uses injection drugs,
  • Has condomless sex (anal, vaginal, oral),
  • Men who have sex with other men (MSM), and
  • Women who have sex with MSM,

Note: All persons aged 13-64 years of age should be tested for HIV at least once in their lifetime by their healthcare provider.

When collecting the sample for STI screening, the collection should be performed at the site of potential STI exposure.

• For example: If a client has oral or anal sex, they should be screened for gonorrhea in both the throat and rectal areas.

• The current treatment guidelines for STIs is provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

• If a client has a positive test result for HIV and is in need of finding care, the NH Ryan White CARE Program can be contacted at 603-271-4502 or 800-852-3345.

Expedited Partner Therapy (EPT):

• In NH, healthcare providers can provide antibiotics, either the medicine or prescription for the medicine, for the sex partner(s) of a client they are treating for chlamydia and/or gonorrhea.

• EPT has been shown to be an effective way to control the spread of both chlamydia and gonorrhea.

• Resources:
  • CDC - Expedited Partner Therapy
  • Healthcare Providers - Brochure 
  • Healthcare Providers - Facts & Stats
  • Patients 
  • Partners
  • Pharmacists
• If you would like to meet with a Public Health Detailer to talk about EPT, email PHED@dhhs.nh.gov.

• Clients should be encouraged to:
  • Identify sex and needle sharing partners
  • Provide partners information on STIs
  • Urge partners to see a healthcare provider for evaluation.

The DPHS Linkage to Care staff provides confidential Partner Services for sex and needle sharing partners of those who have tested positive for gonorrhea, syphilis, and HIV.

To request Partner Services:

• Call 603-271-4502 or
• 800-852-3345 ext. 4502 (toll-free within NH)
• Or email L2C@dhhs.nh.gov

For testing services, people should see their healthcare provider, visit a local community health center, or one of the DPHS Partner Agencies who offer STI testing and treatment.

The CDC recommends everyone ages 13-64 be tested for HIV at least once in their lifetime, by their healthcare provider.

• Manchester Health Department - 603-624-6466
• Nashua Health Department - To reserve a date and time, call 603-589-4500, option 2.

In an emergency, clients need to go directly to the nearest urgent care center or hospital ER.