Multisite Testing Improves Detection of STIs in Women

Screening for Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae in women is typically limited to vaginal testing unless patients report oral or anal exposures. However, extragenital infections are often asymptomatic and may not correlate with reported sexual practices, raising concern that selective testing misses infections. In this prospective study based at free STI centers in France, ~1500 women underwent testing for gonorrhea and chlamydia at all three sites: oral, anal, and vaginal. Oral (pharyngeal) swabs were collected by health care workers; anal and vaginal swabs were self-collected by participants.