What to Know About Expedited Partner Therapy (EPT)

How it works

EPT is a way for people with certain STIs to get treatments for their sexual partners more quickly. If one sexual partner goes to a healthcare professional for an STI evaluation, that healthcare professional may also prescribe medication for the non-present partner without needing to evaluate them in person.

Healthcare professionals typically only prescribe EPT for people with chlamydia and gonorrhea, which are bacterial STIs. Some states or healthcare professionals may also use EPT to treat trichomoniasis, a parasitic STI, but it varies.

Some healthcare professionals may prescribe treatment after a clinical diagnosis, meaning they’ll make a diagnosis based on a physical and symptom evaluation. Others may want to get a laboratory diagnosis before prescribing medication, meaning they may want to take a bodily fluid sample and have it analyzed first to definitively identify the type of STI you have.

Once you have your prescriptions, you can get them filled and pay for them at your pharmacy.

In some cases, a healthcare professional may give you medications for both you and your partner directly.

Where can you get it?

In many places, any healthcare professional who is licensed to prescribe medication — including primary care physicians (PCP), nurse practitioners, and pharmacists — can provide EPT. However, it’s best to check with your specific state to learn more about who can or can’t provide care.

You could try visiting your PCP or a healthcare professional at a local clinic or pharmacy. Other doctors and healthcare professionals, such as OB/GYNs, may also be able to prescribe treatment.

Who pays for it

In general, the person who will be taking the medication will pay for their own treatment.

If you visit a healthcare professional and receive treatment for an STI, you’ll be responsible for paying for it. If you have insurance, your treatment may be covered by your plan.

However, your insurance plan will likely not pay for your partner’s treatment because insurance plans generally only cover the plan’s beneficiary.

If your partner has their own insurance plan, that plan may cover their treatment, or you or your partner can pay out of pocket for their treatment.

It’s best to check with you and your partner’s respective insurance companies to verify what may be covered.

If you or your partner doesn’t have insurance, there may be ways to save on your prescriptions. For example, some companies, like Healthline’s sister site Optum Perks, offer pharmacy coupons for many common medications that may lower the price.

Benefits

EPT has a few benefits.

Helps when an in-person visit isn’t possible for a sexual partner

If your sexual partner can’t or doesn’t want to go to a healthcare professional for an evaluation, EPT may help them get treatment anyway. Prompt treatment for both partners can help prevent the infection from causing complications or transmitting to others.

Helps reduce STI transmission

EPT can help keep STIs from transmitting to other people. According to studies included in a 2019 research review, EPT may reduce chlamydia cases at follow-up by 20% and gonorrhea cases by 50%.

Helps prevent complications from untreated STIs

If left untreated, STIs may cause long-lasting and potentially serious complications.

For example, chlamydia may lead to pelvic inflammatory disease, which can increase the risk of ectopic pregnancy, fertility issues, and chronic pain.

Gonorrhea may also cause fertility and pregnancy issues, as well as prostate inflammation and a higher risk of contracting HIV.

Limitations

Though EPT can be beneficial in certain situations, it also has some limitations.

It can’t treat all STIs

Healthcare professionals typically only use EPT to manage a few STIs. Most studies have focused on EPT’s benefits for people with chlamydia and gonorrhea.

Some healthcare professionals in some places may also use it to treat trichomoniasis, but it varies.

Healthcare professionals may not prescribe it for people who have sex with people of the same sex assigned at birth

Studies have mostly focused on benefits in people who have sex with people of a different sex assigned at birth, with research into the benefits of other populations — particularly men who have sex with men — being limited.

Because of this, some healthcare professionals may not prescribe EPT for people who have sex with people of the same sex. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists notes that EPT may help women who have sex with women, but more research is needed.

Other situations where EPT may not be recommended

Healthcare professionals may also not recommend EPT for people who:

• may have experienced sexual assault or abuse
• may be in an unsafe situation
• have a known allergy to antibiotics used to manage STIs
• have:
  • syphilis
  • HIV
  • pharyngeal or rectal chlamydia
  • pharyngeal or rectal gonorrhea

Eligibility

You may be eligible for EPT if:

• your healthcare professional diagnoses chlamydia, gonorrhea, or trichomoniasis
• you don’t have a known allergy to medications used to treat STIs
• you’re not experiencing domestic or sexual abuse
• you don’t have syphilis or HIV
• you have sex with people of a different sex assigned at birth

Again, it’s important to note that the rules and general recommendations for EPT may vary depending on where you are. It’s best to check with a healthcare professional or your local health department to understand whether you’re eligible for EPT.

Takeaway

EPT can’t always replace an in-person appointment, but it may be a good option for people whose sexual partners can’t or are unwilling to attend an in-person evaluation for chlamydia, gonorrhea, and sometimes trichomoniasis.

If you think you may have an STI, consider contacting your doctor or local health department to find out whether EPT may be an option.