Which of the following are elements of a sensitive sexual history?

• A. Sexual activity status
• B. Number of partners
• C. Protection use and STI risk
• D. All of the above

Answer: (D)

When you take a sensitive sexual history, you gather information that directly affects risk assessment, testing, and counseling. Knowing whether the patient is sexually active, how many partners they have, and their use of protection along with STI risk gives a complete picture.

Sexual activity status helps you determine what topics are relevant to discuss next and what screening or counseling might be needed. The number of partners informs exposure risk to sexually transmitted infections and can influence how often screening should occur. Protection use and STI risk directly shape the likelihood of transmission and the need for protective counseling, vaccination, and testing.

Together, these elements form a comprehensive approach to a sensitive sexual history, so including all of them provides the most useful information for patient care.