Physicians in some states offering antibiotics to at risk partners

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has been searching for a way to keep the number of sexually transmitted infections down. Recently, they have made a push for physicians to give females who have been diagnosed with sexually transmitted disease (STD) antibiotics to give to their male partners who may not be able to see a doctor.

The practice is legal in 27 states, and others are considering adopting this method. The opinion of many in the medical community is that the benefits to the health of participants outweigh many of the potential legal issues, according to an article on Med Page Today.

"Of course, it's preferable that a physician examine a patient in-person before prescribing medication," according to Diane Merritt, M.D., of Washington University School of Medicine, quoted by the news source.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, untreated STDs can lead to a variety of health problems, including infertility, brain damage and death. This suggests that more should be done to encourage all those who are at risk to get tested and treated.