About RVIPP
History of the Infertility Prevention Projects
In 1993 Congress appropriated funds to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to begin a national STD-related Infertility Prevention Project. The program was designed to improve screening, surveillance, and treatment of Chlamydia trachomatis in the United States. By 1996 the CDC had contracted with all states for demonstration level health funding to provide tests and treatment for chlamydia in select family planning and STD clinics.
The Region V Infertility Prevention Project
The Region V Infertility Prevention Project (RVIPP) aims to reduce the prevalence of chlamydia and gonorrhea infection in Public Health Service Region V, which includes Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin. Funded through an interagency agreement between the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Office of Population Affairs (OPA), the RVIPP is designed to create and sustain an infrastructure that fosters a working relationship between STD programs, family planning programs, and public health laboratories.
Since the origin of this project, regional activities have been coordinated by Health Care Education and Training, Inc. (HCET), a non-profit organization that provides training, technical assistance, and infrastructure development on issues of reproductive and sexual health within the region. HCET serves professionals, health care systems, and communities to enhance health.
Accomplishments
The development of state-specific selective screening criteria guiding clinicians to screen the highest risk clients and discourage screening in low risk population.
The development of a standard way to collect chlamydia and gonorrhea surveillance data as well as the production of a wide variety of data reports to inform screening efforts, resource allocation, and decision making.
Expanding screening to diverse venues, including juvenile corrections and school-based clinics.
Moving to state-of-the-art test technology, Nucleic Acid Amplification Testing (NAATs).
The establishment of a regional goal for timely treatment for chlamydia and gonorrhea of 80% within 14 days and 90% within 30 days.
The legalization of expedited partner therapy (EPT) in three of the six Region V states.
The health care cost savings resulting from complications averted through screening and treatment efforts.
Collaboration and information sharing across disciplines and states to further STD prevention efforts.
The production of the RVIPP Chlamydia Self-Study Manual.
The development of a regional Chlamydia Awareness Campaign targeting physicians serving the highest risk populations.
Share regional data through multiple venues.
Chlamydia
Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) is the most common bacterial, sexually transmitted infection in the United States with an estimated 2.8 million new infections occurring annually. Approximately 75% of infected women and 50% of infected men have no symptoms, and therefore, may not seek health care until severe health problems occur. Infection with chlamydia can result in substantial costs both in terms of morbidity and dollars. When diagnosed chlamydia can be easily treated and cured, but untreated chlamydia can cause severe and costly reproductive health problems including pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which is linked to infertility and ectopic pregnancy.
Any sexually active individual can be at risk for chlamydia. Adolescents and young women are at particular risk for infection because the cells within the cervix are not fully matured. Screening at least annually for chlamydia is recommended for women aged 25 years and younger to prevent the consequences that could result from infection.
Transmission of chlamydia can be prevented or reduced by abstaining from sexual contact, being in a mutually monogamous relationship where both partners have been tested and are found to be uninfected, or by using latex condoms consistently and correctly.
Click here for more information:
CDC’s Chlamydia Fact Sheet
Gonorrhea
Neisseria gonorrrhoeae (GC) is the bacterium that causes gonorrhea, a common sexually transmitted disease. CDC estimates that 700,000 people contract gonorrhea per year with only about half being reported. Like chlamydia, gonorrhea often goes undiagnosed because it does not always display symptoms, but when diagnosed, it can be treated and cured preventing other reproductive health problems such as PID. However, antibiotic resistant strains of gonorrhea are on the rise making successful treatment more difficult.
Any sexually active person can be infected with gonorrhea. Sexually active adolescents, young adults, and African Americans are among those with the highest rates of infection.
Transmission can be prevented or reduced by practicing abstinence, being in a mutually monogamous relationship where both partners have been tested and are found to be uninfected, or by using latex condoms consistently and correctly.
Click here for more information:
CDC’s Gonorrhea Fact Sheet