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Article: Family planning and STDs: how do they mix? (sexually transmitted diseases)
- Article from:
- Population Reports
- Article date:
- June 1, 1993
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1993 Department of Health. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Most family planning programs cannot offer high-quality services without paying attention to STDs. Family planning providers need to tell clients about the STD protection that various contraceptive methods do or do not provide. They must make clear that people at risk for STDs should use condoms, whether or not they use another method. Also, for women interested in the IUD, providers must assess their risk of getting an STD and, if possible, screen them for STDs. Those who have an STD or are at risk should use another method. (See box, p. 18.)
What more should family planning programs do? Should they ask clients about symptoms and refer them to another ...