Good News on STIs, Plus New Treatments for Sexual Health in 2025

For the first time in years, there's genuinely good news about sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in America. The combined cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis dropped 9% in 2024 compared to 2023, marking the third consecutive year of decline. Meanwhile, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved several breakthrough treatments that could transform women's sexual health care.

Why Are STI Rates Finally Dropping?

The latest Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data shows more than 2.2 million reported STI cases in 2024, but this represents a significant improvement from recent peaks. Chlamydia cases declined for the second year running, dropping 8% since 2023, while gonorrhea cases fell for the third straight year, down 10% from the previous year.

However, one troubling trend continues: congenital syphilis increased for the 12th consecutive year, with nearly 4,000 reported cases in 2024. This means babies are still being born with syphilis infections that could have been prevented with proper prenatal care.

What New Treatments Are Available for Sexual Health?

The year 2025 brought several major wins for women's sexual health that had been decades in the making. The FDA approved multiple treatments that address long-standing gaps in care:

• Addyi Expansion: The FDA granted approval for Addyi (flibanserin) to treat hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) in postmenopausal women under 65, expanding beyond its previous approval for only premenopausal women
• Women's Arousal Cream: DARE to PLAY, a prescription cream containing sildenafil (the same active ingredient as Viagra), became available specifically for women's arousal issues by increasing blood flow to the vulva and clitoris
• New Gonorrhea Treatments: For the first time in decades, the FDA approved two new oral treatments for gonorrhea - Nuzolvence (zoliflodacin) and Blujepa (gepotidacin) - addressing growing concerns about antibiotic resistance
• At-Home STI Testing: The FDA authorized two at-home STI tests, including the Visby Medical Women's Sexual Health Test for gonorrhea, chlamydia and trichomoniasis, plus the First to Know Syphilis Test

"Men were very loud about the fact that it was so critical to their sexual function and sexual activity to be able to have an erection. With women, it has been viewed as more complicated... but it's not," said Sabrina Johnson, CEO of Daré Bioscience. "It's really not that much more complicated. There's desire [and] there's arousal, just like in men."

What Does This Mean for Sexual Health Going Forward?

These developments represent a significant shift in how women's sexual health is prioritized in medical research and treatment. "This era is over," said Cindy Eckert, founder and CEO of Sprout Pharmaceuticals, referring to the long period when postmenopausal women had no pharmacological options for treating low desire.

The new gonorrhea treatments are particularly crucial given rising STI rates among older adults. Dr. Maral Malekzadeh, a board-certified OB-GYN and co-owner of The Well Westlake, called the approvals a "major and much-needed step forward, especially at a time when antibiotic resistance has been steadily narrowing our [treatment] options."

Additionally, the opening of the first major endometriosis research center in the United States - the Seckin Endometriosis Research Center for Women's Health at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory in Long Island, New York - signals increased attention to conditions affecting about 10% of women worldwide.

While overall STI trends show improvement, the CDC notes that some geographic areas and populations may experience increases not reflected in the national data. The agency expects 2024 STI data to be finalized in 2026, though substantial changes to the current trends are not anticipated.