Special Report: Future Directions for STI Diagnosis and Treatment

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

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

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

In the final segment of our 7-part Special Report, panelists close the discussion by reflecting on a central theme: empowerment. Empowerment of providers to use the best evidence-based tools, and empowerment of women to access screening, treatment, and knowledge without barriers.

Looking ahead, the most exciting innovations are those that meet patients where they are—whether that’s at home with self-collection kits, in rural clinics with point-of-care assays, or in integrated care teams where obstetricians, midwives, and laboratorians all work together. These tools don’t just change workflows; they change outcomes. A woman who receives timely syphilis screening in pregnancy is not just protecting herself—she is protecting her baby’s future.

But technology alone isn’t enough. We need to normalize STI conversations, bridge education gaps, and bring colleagues along as we integrate new diagnostics into practice. The next generation of providers will learn from how we respond now, and the public health numbers in 10 or 20 years will reflect the decisions we make today. If we center patient dignity, reduce stigma, and leverage innovation, we can bend the curve on STI rates and truly transform reproductive health.

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 has no relevant disclosures to report. Relevant disclosures for Heaney include Roche. Relevant disclosures for Johnson include Becton Dickinson.

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/