【】

Femtech startup Daye, who previously launched a digital period pain clinic and at-home microbiome testing, has now released a tampon-based STI screening kit.
At-home STI tests aren't new, but Daye's "repurposing" of a tampon into a testing device is novel. And there's a clear need for more testing: From 2021 to 2022 there was a 24 percent increase in STI diagnoses in the UK — and over half of Brits admit they've never had a sexual health check. Left untreated, some STIs can impact fertility and increase your risk of certain cancers, among other health concerns.
SEE ALSO:So you got an STI, now what?Daye's STI screening kit uses polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technologies to test for chlamydia, gonorrhoea, trichomonas, mycoplasma, and ureaplasma. The test can detect trace amount of genetic material from pathogens (organisms that carry disease), according to the press release, and can detect multiple pathogens with a single sample.
Daye claims that the specificity of PCRs leads to fewer false positives and a more reliable diagnosis. Further, the company says that the diagnostic tampon collects more vaginal fluid and covers more surface area than a typical swab, so it can gather a better sample.
The STI screening kit underwent clinical trials with 600 patients. "The samples will be analysed in a UKAS-accredited lab, following CQC-approved screening methodologies using a PCR-based, CE marked diagnostic assay. The Daye Diagnostic Kit is registered with the MHRA," the press release stated.
Going to get tested at a clinic can be an uncomfortable experience. Depending on where you live and health insurance policies, it can also be cost-prohibitive. In the UK, however, many sexual health services offer free STI self-sampling kits according to the UK Health Security Agency.
As if now, Daye's STI screening kit is only available in the UK for £99 (or £129 for a combination with the microbiome kit). The website claims that the kits are coming to the U.S. and EU soon.
SEE ALSO:Lovehoney is hosting its own Black Friday sale with up to 70% off sex toys"I love this innovative approach to improving access to healthcare," board-certified OBGYN and fellow of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG), Dr. Cynthia Wesley, told Mashable.
"We look forward to published data on the efficacy, accuracy, safety, and acceptability of these types of products. STI rates are only increasing, so additional ways to screen could be beneficial. It is also important that people receiving positive results from at-home tests can quickly be connected with a clinician for appropriate treatment," ACOG told Mashable.
Related Stories
- What is No Nut November? Why abstaining from masturbation isn't healthy.
- Can you take an STI test when you have your period?
- The best sex toy deals to shop this week
- The best dating apps for women to fall in love, find a plus one, or end a dry spell
- How to have sex on your period
Want more sex and dating storiesin your inbox? Sign up for Mashable's new weekly After Dark newsletter.
"Despite living in a world where over a million people get an STI every day, STI testing has chronically low rates post COVID-19, and as a result, many women and AFAB [assigned female at birth] individuals could have an infection unknowingly because they have no symptoms," said Daye founder Valentina Milanova in the press release.
"Our STI Diagnostic Tampon makes STI testing extremely easy, comfortable and discrete," Milanova continued.
"We hope our approach will end the 'STIgma,' revolutionise STI testing and lead to a dramatic uptick in the number of women getting checked, helping them protect their long-term health and fertility."
UPDATE: Nov. 8, 2023, 11:25 a.m. EST This article has been updated with comment from the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
相关文章
You can now play 'Solitaire' and 'Tic
Google just added two new fun Easter eggs to its search results.。You can now play。 Solitaire。and 。 Ti2025-04-03MTV launches new animated, digital docu
LOS ANGELES -- MTV is delving deeper into the digital space with a new docu-series dedicated to inte2025-04-03Rob Kardashian's childhood crush was...Kim Kardashian?
Rob Kardashian and Blac Chyna are in the midst of a heap of drama, but in a new clip that surfaced o2025-04-03Angry customer casually smashes up iPhones in a French Apple Store
An angry French customer walked into an Apple Store in Dijon and, armed with a steel ball used in th2025-04-03These glasses hide a fitness tracker on your face
The last time a company tried popularizing wearable tech embedded in glasses, most notably with Goog2025-04-03Bob Bradley finally gets his shot, an American will manage a Premier League team for first time
The English Premier League historically represents the pinnacle of professional men's soccer. Americ2025-04-03
最新评论