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Review
. 2022 Aug;7(8):1116-1126.
doi: 10.1038/s41564-022-01177-x. Epub 2022 Aug 2.

Sexually transmitted infections and female reproductive health

Olivia T Van Gerwen  1 , Christina A Muzny  2 , Jeanne M Marrazzo  2
Affiliations
Review

Sexually transmitted infections and female reproductive health

Olivia T Van Gerwen et al. Nat Microbiol. 2022 Aug.

Abstract

Women are disproportionately affected by sexually transmitted infections (STIs) throughout life. In addition to their high prevalence in women, STIs have debilitating effects on female reproductive health due to female urogenital anatomy, socio-cultural and economic factors. In this Review, we discuss the prevalence and impact of non-HIV bacterial, viral and parasitic STIs on the reproductive and sexual health of cisgender women worldwide. We analyse factors affecting STI prevalence among transgender women and women in low-income settings, and describe the specific challenges and barriers to improved sexual health faced by these population groups. We also synthesize the latest advances in diagnosis, treatment and prevention of STIs.

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Conflict of interest statement

O.T.V.G. has received research grant support from Gilead Sciences, Inc. and Abbott Molecular, and serves on the scientific advisory board for Scynexis. C.A.M. has received research grant support from Lupin Pharmaceuticals, Gilead Sciences, Inc. and Abbott Molecular, is a consultant for Cepheid, Scynexis, Lupin Pharmaceuticals, PhagoMed and BioFire Diagnostics, and has received honoraria from Elsevier, Abbott Molecular, Cepheid, Becton Dickinson, Roche Diagnostics and Lupin. J.M. serves on scientific advisory committees for Merck and Gilead, has received research grant support from Becton Dickinson and GlaxoSmithKline, and serves as a scientific advisor for OSEL.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1. Incident cases of chlamydia, gonorrhoea, trichomoniasis and syphilis in 2016.
WHO global regions and the incident cases of four STIs (chlamydia, gonorrhoea, trichomoniasis and syphilis) from 2016 estimates. The WHO estimates of new cases of these four STIs worldwide in 2020 are shown at the bottom right of the figure.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2. Anatomical sites affected by selected STIs.
STIs can affect genital and extragenital sites in women. Gonorrhoea and chlamydia typically present as cervicitis. Bacterial vaginosis (BV) and trichomoniasis can also cause cervicitis, but more commonly manifest as vaginitis. HSV and HPV most typically affect the vulva or external genitalia of women.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Rowley J, et al. Chlamydia, gonorrhoea, trichomoniasis and syphilis: global prevalence and incidence estimates, 2016. Bull. World Health Organ. 2019;97:548–562. doi: 10.2471/BLT.18.228486. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Reported STDs reach all-time high for 6th consecutive year. CDC (3 April 2021); https://www.cdc.gov/nchhstp/newsroom/2021/2019-std-surveillance-report-p...
    1. Kreisel, K. M. et al. Sexually transmitted infections among US women and men: prevalence and incidence estimates, 2018. Sex. Transm. Dis. 10.1097/OLQ.0000000000001355 (2021). - PMC - PubMed
    1. Rietmeijer, C. A. et al. Report from the national academies of sciences, engineering and medicine–STI: adopting a sexual health paradigm–a synopsis for sti practitioners, clinicians, and researchers. Sex. Transm. Dis. 10.1097/olq.0000000000001552 (2021). - PMC - PubMed
    1. CDC Fact Sheet: 10 Ways STDs Impact Women Differently from Men (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2011); https://www.cdc.gov/std/health-disparities/stds-women-042011.pdf

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