People who would benefit from PrEP for HIV infection are also often at high risk for other STDs. Globally, 1 in 4 people who would benefit from HIV PrEP have been previously diagnosed with at least 1 STD – specifically gonorrhea, syphilis or chlamydia before starting PrEP. Since STIs are asymptomatic, many of these infections would have been missed and the chain of transmission continued if testing had not been carried out. Considering that many STDs are easily treatable, offering STD services for people on PrEP is an opportunity not to be missed. Recently, the WHO conducted a review of national HIV PrEP guidance documents and found that one-third did not mention STIs as part of their PrEP-related recommendations. “Offering STD services to people using PrEP creates an opportunity to reach people at higher risk of infection who might otherwise go undiagnosed, particularly as most STDs show no signs or symptoms,” said Teodora Wi, head of the Global STD Program of the WHO. “This approach is beneficial for the person with an STI, their sexual partners, and also for the response to an STI,” he added. “Integrating services at the primary level of care creates efficiencies and synergies for the health system and promotes a people-centred approach to improving people’s sexual health and the quality of their care,” said Meg Doherty, WHO Director of HIV , hepatitis and STDs. . “We hope this new guidance will contribute to those goals.”
