How to counsel about sexually transmitted infections
Other platforms explain it with text and video. In Making Synapses you practice it on the patient.
Sexually transmitted infections are common and often cause no symptoms. Clear, respectful counseling gets patients tested, treated and protected.
Step by step
Set a safe tone
Make sure of privacy and confidentiality. Explain that you ask every patient these questions. [1]
Take a sexual history
Ask about partners, practices, protection, past STIs and pregnancy plans. Do not assume. [1]
Explain testing
Tests may include urine or swabs for chlamydia and gonorrhea, and blood tests for HIV, syphilis and hepatitis. [2]
Explain results and treatment
Name the infection and the medicine. Avoid sex until 7 days after treatment and until partners are treated. [3]
Talk about partners
Partners need testing and treatment. Expedited partner therapy may be an option where allowed. [2]
Discuss prevention
Condoms, vaccines for HPV and hepatitis B, and PrEP for HIV if at risk. [2]
Use teach-back
Ask the patient to explain the treatment and when it is safe to have sex again. [4]
Common errors
- Assuming a patient's partners or practices.
- Not arranging treatment for partners.
- Forgetting to offer HIV testing and PrEP.
Practice it in Making Synapses
In Making Synapses you do this on the patient, not on paper: every step goes on the checklist with a score, and in Teach mode Blocky tells you what comes next.
Making Synapses cases that train this skill
- HIV with Pneumocystis pneumonia
- Anaphylaxis from a bee sting
- Angioedema
- Food allergy
- Urethral stricture
- Chlamydia
16 Making Synapses cases train this skill: open the case library
Sources
- AAMC Core Entrustable Professional Activities (Core EPAs)
- NCCPA PANCE Content Blueprint
- Open RN, Nursing Pharmacology 2e (CC BY 4.0)
- AHRQ Health Literacy Universal Precautions Toolkit (Teach-Back)
Facts and steps follow AAMC Core Entrustable Professional Activities (Core EPAs); AHRQ Health Literacy Universal Precautions Toolkit (Teach-Back). Making Synapses is not affiliated with these organizations. Updated: 2026-10-11.