Special Report: Challenges and Workflow Integration in STI Care

EP: 1.Special Report: Advances in STI Screening and Treatments

EP: 2.Special Report: New Frontiers in STI Treatment

EP: 3.Special Report: STI Diagnostic Innovations and At-Home Testing

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EP: 4.Special Report: Challenges and Workflow Integration in STI Care

EP: 5.Special Report: Impact of Screening on Congenital Conditions

EP: 6.Special Report: Education and Collaboration in STI Management

EP: 7.Special Report: Future Directions for STI Diagnosis and Treatment

In part 4 of this 7-part Special Report, the panel discussion moves to the importance of access and early detection in protecting maternal-fetal health. Brooke Redmond, MD, emphasized that making STI testing more accessible, acceptable, and patient-driven has the potential to reduce transmission and mitigate long-term complications. For pregnant patients, the implications extend beyond their own health. Early identification and treatment can significantly reduce the risk of congenital transmission, where infections like syphilis, HIV, and hepatitis B or C can have profound consequences for the fetus or newborn.

She highlighted how timely, reliable diagnostics allow providers to act before symptoms ever appear—an especially important point given that many congenital infections remain silent until it is too late to intervene. From the maternal side, improved tools can help overcome barriers of stigma and logistics, ensuring that patients feel empowered rather than intimidated by the process of getting screened.

Redmond also underscored that STI management in pregnancy is inherently multidisciplinary. Obstetricians, midwives, maternal–fetal medicine specialists, and neonatologists all rely on clear communication around serologic and molecular testing to guide decisions during pregnancy, delivery, and the postpartum period. With syphilis on the rise nationally, she noted, the need for rigorous screening protocols and expanded access to innovative diagnostic tools has never been greater. For women’s health providers, this underscores the dual role of protecting the patient and her child—a mission made more achievable with expanded access to testing and treatment.

Our Experts:

• Kylee Johnson, MS, APRN, is a women’s health nurse practitioner at Rocky Mountain Women's Clinic.
• Brooke Redmond, MD, is an attending neonatal critical care physician at the Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital. She is the creator and director of the 24/7 BABY program.
• Denise Heaney, PhD, is a senior scientific affairs manager in Diagnostics Information Solutions at Roche Diagnostics Corporation in Indianapolis.

Redmond and Johnson have no relevant disclosures to report. Relevant disclosures for Heaney include Roche.

References:

1. Hufstetler K, Llata E, Miele K, Quilter LAS. Clinical Updates in Sexually Transmitted Infections, 2024. J Womens Health (Larchmt). 2024;33(6):827-837. doi:10.1089/jwh.2024.0367

2. World Health Organization. Guidelines for the management of asymptomatic sexually transmitted infections. Published 2025. Accessed September 30, 2025. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK616637/