Raising awareness is more important than ever as new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) continue to rise.

To help address this growing epidemic, Hologic offers a comprehensive portfolio of diagnostic tests for sexual and vaginal health and partners with the public health and medical community to emphasize the critical need for routine STI screening and prevention.

This year, Hologic created and distributed a wide variety of content throughout April – STI Awareness Month – with a focus on the benefits of an Opt-Out screening approach for chlamydia and gonorrhea, and the importance of NAAT testing for optimal STI detection and prevention. Highlights of this outreach included:

• National media tour focused on the importance of an Opt-Out screening approach: Dr. Kyle Bukowski, Medical Director, Diagnostic Solutions at Hologic, talked with numerous television and radio media outlets to highlight this topic in light of the latest CDC data. He explained how incorporating an Opt-Out screening approach for chlamydia and gonorrhea in women 15-24 years old can help remove barriers and the stigma around testing, increase detection and prevent long-term health consequences like pregnancy complications and infertility. Interview segments reached viewers across the United States, including cities like Denver and Salt Lake City.
• Webinar and Contemporary Pediatrics byline about Opt-Out screening: Dr. Tonya Chaffee, MD, MPH, shared her expert perspective on the benefits of implementing an Opt-Out screening approach in clinical practice in an educational webinar and byline. Both engagements were geared toward pediatricians and primary care physicians who are in a unique position to help patients, namely young women, adopt routine STI screening habits that can positively impact their long-term sexual and reproductive health.
• Webinar and Contemporary OB/GYN byline about the importance of NAAT testing for M. genitalium (M. gen): Dr. Melissa Martinez-Adorno, MD, FACOG, stressed the importance of screening for M. gen in an educational webinar and byline. She discussed the value of highly sensitive NAAT testing for M. gen, an STI that presents with symptoms similar to other common STIs and is often overlooked, to help OB/GYNs make well-informed treatment decisions.
• Clinical Lab Products (CLP) byline about the STI epidemic: Jennifer Schneiders, Ph.D., President of Diagnostic Solutions at Hologic, emphasized the essential role lab professionals play on the front lines of combating the escalating STI epidemic by providing timely and accurate test results to help protect women’s health.
• Social media amplification: Hologic also provided educational content resources through its social media channels, including highlights from expert-authored bylines and webinars.

As rates of STIs continue to increase, it is essential to educate and empower women in partnership with their healthcare providers to take a more preventive approach with routine STI screening. To learn more, visit: www.hologic.com/wellwoman.