WHO Updates STI Guidance to Combat Rising Infections

New Recommendations Target High-Risk Groups and Service Delivery Ahead of Global Congress

The World Health Organization (WHO) has unveiled crucial new guidance and policy data on sexually transmitted infections (STIs). These updates, released ahead of the STI & HIV 2025 World Congress in Montreal, aim to bolster prevention, screening, diagnosis, and treatment efforts, especially in underserved regions.

Focus on Asymptomatic STIs and Service Integration

Two significant components of the forthcoming consolidated guidelines are now available: the Guidelines for the management of asymptomatic STIs and the Recommendations on the delivery of health services for STI prevention and care. These evidence-based documents build upon existing guidance for various STIs and their management.

Key recommendations emphasize targeted screening for gonorrhea and chlamydia in high-prevalence areas. This includes pregnant women, adolescents and young adults aged 10–24, sex workers, and men who have sex with men (MSM). Screening frequency is advised to align with individual risk and available resources, suggesting annual or bi-annual checks for sex workers and MSM.

Accelerating Progress Toward 2030 Goals

Service delivery improvements focus on decentralizing STI services, integrating them into broader healthcare, and empowering trained providers and community health workers through task sharing. Digital tools are also encouraged to supplement in-person care.

“These new recommendations aim to close persistent policy and service gaps, especially for asymptomatic STIs, and help countries move faster toward the 2030 goals,” stated Dr Meg Doherty, Director of WHO’s Global HIV, Hepatitis and STIs Programmes.

Mixed Progress on National Policy Implementation

New data reveals a mixed picture of national STI policy adoption. While 89% of reporting countries have a national STI strategy, only 43% have updated it since 2023. Similarly, 97% of countries have national case management guidelines, but half have not revised them since 2020.

Gonococcal resistance monitoring remains a challenge, with only 37% of countries conducting routine surveillance. On a positive note, 95 countries have integrated dual HIV/syphilis rapid tests into their national policies, with nearly half applying this to both pregnant women and key populations.

National plans to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis are active in 72% of reporting nations. Furthermore, as of July 2025, 147 Member States (76%) have incorporated the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine into their national immunization schedules, a critical step in preventing cervical cancer.

These findings highlight the pressing need to update national policies and enhance surveillance to combat the persistent burden of STIs. For instance, in 2022, over 1.6 million cases of gonorrhea were reported in the United States alone, underscoring the ongoing public health challenge (CDC 2022 Data).