日本性感染症学会誌 Journal of Japanese Society for Sexually Transmitted Infections

The COVID-19 pandemic that began at the end of 2019 has caused structural changes in the medical industry. One of the changes is an online medical service for at-home testing by mail for STDs. Many STDs can be determined at home using at-home testing, and the need for at-home testing in the medical field is increasing worldwide in the COVID-19 era. At-home STD testing by mail enables early detection and early treatment even for those who do not have subjective symptoms, leading to increased convenience and opportunities for patients. By using the results of at-home STD testing to conduct online medical consultations, patients will be able to receive treatment for various STDs at home. These methods have advantages in terms of privacy protection, confidentiality, time savings, convenience, and increased access. Considering the characteristics of STDs, there is a high affinity between online medical consultations and at-home STD testing by mail. The development of digital health utilizing the Japanese medical system is expected while complying with treatment guidelines for STDs.