At-Home STI Tests Are Changing the Game—Here's What You Need to Know

At-home testing for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) is revolutionizing sexual health care in America, offering faster results and greater privacy than traditional clinic visits. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved the first at-home test for three common infections in women—gonorrhea, chlamydia, and trichomoniasis—along with the first home-based kit for human papillomavirus (HPV), the virus that causes cervical cancer.

How Do These New At-Home Tests Actually Work?

The breakthrough three-in-one test from Visby Medical uses a simple urine sample and vaginal swab that you can collect yourself at home. The kit includes a small electronic device that processes your sample and sends results to an online app for review within hours. "Sexual health can be stigmatized and people can be hesitant about testing," said Dr. Ina Park, a sexual health specialist at the University of California, San Francisco.

The entire process—from purchasing the test to getting a prescription if needed—can take as little as six hours, compared to several days with traditional testing methods. The $150 test also includes a telehealth consultation with a medical provider who can discuss results and prescribe antibiotics if necessary.

What Makes These Tests So Accurate?

The FDA approved Visby's test based on study results showing it correctly detected the three infections with accuracy rates around 98% or higher—similar to tests performed at hospitals and health clinics. For HPV testing, Teal Health's FDA-approved kit allows women to collect their own vaginal sample using the Teal Wand, which is then shipped to a laboratory for processing.

These new testing options address several key advantages over traditional clinic visits:

• Privacy and Convenience: No need to schedule appointments or visit clinics, reducing barriers for people who feel stigmatized about STI testing
• Faster Results: Results available in hours rather than days, preventing delays in treatment
• Better Follow-up: Integrated telehealth consultations ensure patients receive proper care and prescriptions immediately
• Reduced Lost Cases: Traditional testing often loses patients to follow-up, but home testing with immediate telehealth support keeps people engaged in their care

Are There New Treatment Options Too?

Beyond testing improvements, the FDA recently approved two new oral medications for gonorrhea—the first new treatment options for this infection in decades. Both Nuzolvenc and Bluejepa can be taken by mouth, offering a major advantage over the current standard treatment of injectable ceftriaxone. "We were down to one class of antibiotics recommended to treat gonorrhea and we had no other good options," said Park. "So to have two new options in the same year is very exciting."

These developments come at a crucial time, as gonorrhea bacteria have evolved resistance to nearly every antibiotic previously used to treat it. The new oral options provide doctors with much-needed alternatives when the injection isn't suitable or available.

The timing couldn't be better—provisional data for 2024 showed a third consecutive year of fewer gonorrhea cases and the second year in a row of fewer adult cases of chlamydia and syphilis. Experts point to several factors behind this trend, including increased use of at-home screening and preventive antibiotics. However, some caution that higher price tags and potential funding cuts to public health agencies could limit access to these new options for populations who need them most.