The five Ps: Partners, prevention of pregnancy, protection from STIs, practices, and past history of STIs

Partners

Are you currently having sex of any kind?

What is the gender(s) of your partner(s)?

Practices

To understand any risks for STIs, I need to ask more specific questions about the kind of sex you have had recently.

What kind of sexual contact do you have or have you had?

Protection from STIs

Do you and your partner(s) discuss prevention of STIs and HIV?

Do you and your partner(s) discuss getting tested?

For condoms:

Past history of STIs

Have you ever been tested for STIs and HIV?

Have you ever been diagnosed with an STI in the past?

Have any of your partners had an STI?

Additional questions for identifying HIV and viral hepatitis risk:

Pregnancy intention

Do you think you would like to have (more) children in the future?

How important is it to you to prevent pregnancy (until then)?

Are you or your partner using contraception or practicing any form of birth control?

Would you like to talk about ways to prevent pregnancy?

STI: sexually transmitted infection.

Adapted from: Workowski KA, Bachmann LH, Chan PA, et al. Sexually transmitted infections treatment guidelines, 2021. MMWR Recomm Rep 2021; 70:3.

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