Worried? At-Home STD Tests: Private Results, But Is it Safe?!

The fight against sexually transmitted diseases is getting a 21st-century upgrade. As STIs reached alarming levels in recent years, the FDA has greenlit a wave of at-home testing options and innovative treatments, offering a glimmer of hope in reversing the trend.

Worried? At-Home STD Tests: Private Results, But I...

Last year alone, the FDA approved the first over-the-counter test for women capable of detecting gonorrhea, chlamydia, and trichomoniasis. Imagine the convenience! Then, they followed up by approving the first at-home kit for HPV, the virus that can lead to cervical cancer. And just to top it off, the agency greenlit two brand-new drugs to combat gonorrhea, representing the first new treatment options for this persistent infection in decades.

These developments couldn't have come at a better time. We saw a surge in STI cases before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Why? Because resources were diverted, screenings were disrupted, and overall sexual health education suffered. But hey, every cloud has a silver lining. The pandemic inadvertently paved the way for advancements in at-home testing, leveraging the same technology that made rapid COVID tests possible. Think about it: the same tech is now being adapted for home-based syphilis tests and other STIs. The FDA had previously restricted such tests to professionals, but now, the game has changed.

Visby Medical's test, for example, costs around $150 and offers more than just results. It also includes a telehealth consultation with a medical professional. This pro can discuss your results and even prescribe medication if needed. Dr. Gary Schoolnik, Visby's chief medical officer, emphasized that the entire process, from purchase to prescription, can take as little as six hours. That's a stark contrast to the days-long wait associated with traditional testing methods. The FDA gave Visby’s test the thumbs-up because studies showed it accurately detected infections with rates of 98% or higher. Pretty impressive, huh? It's on par with lab tests.

Of course, not all home tests are entirely independent. Teal Health's HPV testing kit, for instance, allows women to collect their own vaginal sample using the Teal Wand. Then, they ship it to a lab for processing. This self-collection method has even received the endorsement of updated federal guidelines for HPV screening released earlier this month, marking a significant shift in protocol. It’s about empowerment and accessibility, and frankly, it’s about time.

Gonorrhea has been a particularly tough nut to crack, constantly evolving and becoming resistant to various antibiotics. But now, we have Nuzolvenc, a public-private partnership success story that comes in water-soluble granules, and Bluejepa from GlaxoSmithKline, a tablet also approved for UTIs. The CDC had previously recommended oral azithromycin alongside injectable ceftriaxone, but the pill was dropped from its guidance following signs of resistance. As one expert put it, "We were down to one class of antibiotics recommended to treat gonorrhea and we had no other good options.” These new treatments are therefore very welcome, and necessary for the health of the population.