History of IPP

The Region IV IPP is part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) National Infertility Prevention Project (IPP).  The purpose of the project is to prevent sexually transmitted infection (STI)-related infertility through collaborative efforts of federally funded Public Health Laboratories, Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) Clinics, Family Planning (FP) Providers, and other health care providers throughout the ten federal Public Health Service Regions.

The project is funded through a Memorandum of Agreement between the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and The Office of Population Affairs (OPA).  Funds are awarded to state health departments who fund targeted chlamydia and gonorrhea screening and treatment among low-income sexually active females age < 26 years in settings that serve the target population.

Large-scale Chlamydia Screening Shown to Reduce Chlamydia Rates

In 1988, CDC initiated a large-scale chlamydia screening demonstration project in Health and Human Services (HHS) Region X (Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington). It was found that introduction of chlamydia screening resulted in nearly a 60% reduction in Chlamydia trachomatis positivity rates among women attending family planning clinics.

Partnerships to Expand the Availability of Chlamydia Screening

In 1992, CDC entered into a memorandum of agreement with the Office of Population Affairs, the administrative agency for the federal Title X Family Planning Program, to help organize and expand the project. The creation of this partnership helped to expand the project to include DHHS Regions III, VII, and VIII. In 1995 the project further expanded to include all DHHS regions in the United States forming the National Infertility Prevention Program (IPP).

This partnership created one of the most distinctive features of the IPP by creating a regionally-based collaboration of state STD programs, Title X family planning and women's health programs, and state public health laboratories.

In the spirit of collaboration, Region IV continues to expand the availability of high-quality chlamydia and gonorrhea screening services to communities disproportionately affected by STIs by forming partnerships with high schools, youth detention centers, homeless shelters, drug treatment centers, community-based organizations, street outreach efforts, HIV service providers, private practice providers, recreation centers, and pre-natal programs.