While some STIs are curable, they often go undiagnosed and untreated, either because they cause few or no symptoms or because diagnostics remain difficult to access. Other STIs have no cure.

Vaccines currently exist for only two common STIs – HPV and hepatitis B. The development of vaccines, and other biomedical interventions such as diagnostics and pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis, could invigorate efforts to address the global problem of STIs.

Vaccines
A global roadmap from the World Health Organization, US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and partners lays out next steps for accelerating STI vaccine development: from assessing needs; to defining preferred product characteristics; to developing, evaluating and licensing vaccines and carefully considering program rollout to ensure equitable access.

Click here to learn more about the roadmap and below to explore the status of vaccine research and priority action areas for tackling each STI.

Pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis
Clinical trials suggest that use of the oral antibiotic doxycycline can reduce STIs when taken after sex (doxyPEP). But there is concern and ongoing research to evaluate its benefit over the potential of antimicrobial resistance. See slides, resources and watch a recording of AVAC’s webinar, Doxycycline for STI Prevention Evidence and Current Research, exploring these issues.