Sexually transmitted infections in adolescents: practical issues in the office setting.

The office-based clinician has an important role in preventing, diagnosing, and treating STIs in adolescents. Primary-care guidelines consistently recommend the annual screening of adolescents for sexual activity and its sequelae. Appropriate office-based care of adolescents requires a firm understanding of adolescent confidentiality laws as well as sensitivity to the adolescent's need for privacy. Counseling should be provided regarding abstinence, the use of condoms, and the value of dual contraception. Newer screening methods, such as the use of urine samples and nucleic-acid amplification techniques, may facilitate appropriate office-based screening for STIs in adolescent patients.