A new report released by Becton, Dickinson and Company (BD) reveals that women are looking to be better informed about sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
The survey, conducted with cooperation from the Harris Poll, found that 77% of women feel they are knowledgeable about vaginal diseases such as yeast infections, yet only 60% know about diagnosis and treatment options available for STIs.
The medtech company is responsible for testing kits BD Vaginal Panel and the BD CTGCTV2 assay, which screen for vaginitis and the three most common nonviral STIs in women who are symptomatic.
The survey of 1,000 U.S. women over 18 years old revealed that almost half of them saw a healthcare provider for a routine gynecological exam within the past year or more. Another 40% of women said they’d had gynecological care within the past 12 months.
Of the women who see healthcare providers for gynecological care, 82% felt their provider should do more to educate them on what are the STIs, what are the treatment options for STIs and other vaginal infections (82%), and how to get testing for STIs and vaginal infections (79%).
When these women felt they might have an infection, 57% went to a gynecologist and 42% went to see a primary care doctor. Vaginal infections (including yeast infections) are the No. 1 reason that women went to see a primary care doctor for a gynecological issues.
According to statistics, yeast infections are often co-occurring with STIs. But those women who only have an STI often don’t develop any symptoms, which means the disease can go undetected or improperly treated.
“In light of April being STI Awareness Month, this timely study shows the importance of providing patients with the knowledge they need to address and prevent sexually transmitted infections," said Jeff Andrews, M.D., a gynecologist and vice president of medical affairs for integrated diagnostic solutions at BD, in a press release.
"With the Centers of Disease Control (CDC) reporting that STIs make up five of the top 10 reportable diseases in the U.S.—with increasing incidence—knowledge and education are critical for patients, as is the development of targeted point-of-care diagnostic technologies.”
The BD survey revealed that of the seven out of 10 women who have had a vaginal infection, only 37% were able to get a diagnosis and appropriate treatment after one visit to a physician. In addition, 19% of these women were not explained which tests their physician was using to diagnose.
The BD survey also revealed the disparities among women of color seeking treatment for vaginal infections and STIs. For example, the poll found that 12% of Asian women, 10% of Black women and 11% of Hispanic women have never had a gynecological exam—versus 4% of white women.
Less than one-third of Black women and 23% of Hispanic women said their healthcare provider was able to diagnosis and treat their gynecological symptoms in one visit.
Among women who have ever had or thought they had a vaginal infection, Hispanic women were more likely than white women to say it took a long time to get an appointment with their healthca.e provider (15% vs 5%) and that it took several visits to find an appropriate treatment (16% vs. 4%).