Moving sexual health into primary care

The rise in sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and the high rate of teenage pregnancies mean that sexual health services need to be increasingly provided in primary care settings by primary care professionals. Guidance from the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) in 2007 recommends proactive intervention sessions with individuals whose sexual history identifies them as at risk. Midwives and health visitors should make regular visits to under-18s who are pregnant or already mothers to provide advice on sexual health and contraception. Primary care professionals should be proactive in partner notification of STIs. The implications of implementing the NICE guidance are discussed, including the need for Primary Care Trusts to ensure that systems and funding are available to move more sexual health activity to primary care.