Learn how to prevent sexually transmitted infections > TRICARE Newsroom > TRICARE News

FALLS CHURCH, Va. –

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs), sometimes called sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), can affect anyone who is sexually active. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that one in five people in the United States has an STI.

As Health.mil reports, the STI rate among active military personnel has steadily increased between 2014 and 2022. This reflects the rising STI rate in the U.S. population as a whole.

“STIs are on the rise nationwide, and we want to make sure beneficiaries know how to protect themselves from infection,” said Dr. Ross Colt, medical director of clinical surveillance and integration for TRICARE Health Plan. “To reduce the risk of infection and detect STIs early, TRICARE covers the cost of STI vaccinations, testing and counseling.”

The only way to reduce your risk of contracting a sexually transmitted disease is to not have sex, but if you are sexually active, there are some things you can do to lower your risk.

There is a simple way to reduce your risk of sexually transmitted diseases and their complications: get vaccinated against human papillomavirus (HPV) and hepatitis B.

The HPV vaccine lowers your risk of becoming infected with HPV, which can cause genital warts and certain cancers. TRICARE covers the cost of the HPV vaccine for men and women.

The hepatitis B vaccine protects against hepatitis B, a serious disease that can cause liver cancer and liver failure. This triple vaccination, recommended for all age groups, is usually started at birth.

TRICARE covers the cost of age-appropriate doses of vaccines as recommended by the CDC. You can get these vaccines at military hospitals or clinics, at a TRICARE-authorized provider, or at some participating network pharmacies. Learn more about TRICARE vaccinations and where to get them.

Many STDs do not cause symptoms, so it is possible to transmit an STD without knowing it. If you are sexually active, it is important to get tested regularly for STDs to protect your health and the health of your partner.

TRICARE covers the cost of STI testing when it is medically necessary. If you are enrolled in TRICARE Prime or TRICARE Select, TRICARE will cover certain STI screenings as part of your annual Health Promotion and Disease Prevention (HP&DP) exam.

These screening tests include tests for:

• syphilis
• Chlamydia and gonorrhoea (in sexually active women under 24 years of age or with another increased risk)
• HIV (for people aged 15 to 65 years or at other increased risk)
• Hepatitis B and C (for adults at increased risk)

During your HP&DP exam, your provider can also advise you on how to reduce your STI risk.

As detailed in the TRICARE Costs and Fees Fact SheetIf you have TRICARE Prime, you pay nothing for preventive care, and in most cases, you don’t need a referral or prior authorization.

If you have TRICARE Select, you won’t pay anything for preventive care tests you get from network providers. However, if you see an out-of-network provider, you may have to contribute to the cost of some tests.

In addition to regular testing, there are some safer sex practices you can follow to protect yourself from sexually transmitted diseases:

• Discuss sexually transmitted diseases with your sexual partners. Ask your partners when they were last tested for STIs and let them know your STI status.
• Use a condom properly during every oral, vaginal or anal intercourse. Condoms are available to military personnel free of charge and without a prescription at all military hospitals and clinics. Condoms also help reduce the risk of pregnancy.
• Limit the number of your sexual partnersThe risk of an STI is lower if you have sex with the same, uninfected partner.

Anyone who is sexually active can be at risk of HIV. However, some groups are at particularly high risk.

If you’re concerned about your risk of HIV, ask your doctor about HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). PrEP is a medication that prevents HIV infection. When taken as directed, it reduces the risk of HIV infection through sex by about 99%.

TRICARE covers the cost of oral PrEP (a pill taken daily). Your doctor can give you more information if they think PrEP might be right for you.

Your doctor can also help you reduce your risk, practice safe sex, or get the right medications to prevent or treat an STI. You can also learn more about how to get on the path to good sexual health.

Do you have questions about preventing or treating STIs? Ask your doctor at your next visit.

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