USPSTF Recommends Screening Women of Reproductive Age for Intimate Partner Violence

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) has issued a new recommendation urging healthcare providers to routinely screen women of reproductive age for intimate partner violence (IPV). Published in the Journal of the American Medical Association on June 24, 2025, this final recommendation emphasizes the importance of identification efforts in clinical settings. Although current evidence does not clearly show that IPV screening reduces violence or improves outcomes over periods of three to 18 months, it highlights the value of connecting women who experience IPV to appropriate care.

The review included data from 35 studies with 18,358 participants. It found that three randomized clinical trials comparing IPV screening with no screening did not demonstrate significant reductions in IPV or benefits for other health outcomes within the evaluated timeframe. Importantly, no harms were reported in these trials. For identifying past-year IPV exposure, nine different screening tools were assessed, with sensitivity ranging from 26% to 87% and specificity from 80% to 97%. Some evidence indicated that interventions like multiple home visits during the perinatal period or behavioral counseling for multiple risks could reduce IPV recurrence.

However, there is a lack of data on caregiver abuse screening among older adults or vulnerable populations. Thus, the USPSTF recommends screening women of reproductive age, including pregnant and postpartum women, as a B recommendation, recognizing that such efforts facilitate linkage to care. Conversely, for older or vulnerable adults, the evidence remains insufficient to assess the benefits and harms of caregiver abuse screening.

This updated guidance underscores the role of clinicians in proactively identifying IPV and providing necessary support, while acknowledging the current gaps in evidence for broader adult populations.