S.T.D. Care for Two: Read the story at NYT.com (Photos by me for The New York Times)

From the article:

” … William, who asked to be identified by his middle name to protect his privacy, was able to include some good news. The sort-of girlfriend — his term — would not need to face the hassle and embarrassment of being tested.

His clinic had issued prescriptions for them both; William himself could give her the antibiotics. For free. Immediately.”

Dr. Matthew Golden, a public health researcher in Seattle, says that giving medicine to a patient and a partner is like giving a vaccine.

 

A “partner pack” is a method of delivering medication for STDs to partners of diagnosed patients.