Afaxys Candid Conversations in Public Health

In our eighth episode of Afaxys Candid Conversations in Public Health, we discuss ovarian aging—a topic currently receiving attention in both scientific research communities as well as in social media discussions. This unique episode brings together a basic science researcher, Dr. Francesca Duncan, and a Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility specialist, Dr. Stephanie Estes, for a fascinating discussion of bench-science-meets-clinical-practice. We delve into new research on ovarian aging, focusing on how fibrosis and inflammation in ovarian tissue affect egg quality and quantity, which could lead to new biomarkers and therapeutic interventions. We also discuss the clinical continuum of ovarian aging and how this impacts fertility and Polyendocrine Metabolic Syndrome (formerly known as PCOS).

Dr. Francesca Duncan earned her doctorate in Cell and Molecular Biology from the University of Pennsylvania and completed post-doctoral fellowships in reproductive science and medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and at Northwestern University. She is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology in the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University where she holds the Thomas J. Watkins Memorial Professorship in Reproductive Science.  She co-directs the Center for Reproductive Science and is the faculty director for the Master of Science in Reproductive Science and Medicine program at Northwestern. She is also an Associate Professor in Residence at the Buck Institute for Research on Aging in the Center for Healthy Aging in Women. Dr. Duncan leads a research program focused on understanding the cellular mechanisms of how aging – both physiologic and iatrogenic - impacts reproductive potential at the levels of the gamete and ovary. Dr. Duncan co-chaired the 2025 NIA Workshop: Sex Differences Impacting Human Health Across the Lifespan and has co-organized the Reproductive Aging Conference since 2022.

Dr. Stephanie Estes is a double board-certified physician in OB/GYN and Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility (REI). She is Professor in the REI division at Penn State Health in Hershey, PA.  As an infertility specialist, she works to understand and assist women throughout their lifespan to work towards their fertility goals.  She has a love for reproductive surgery from residency to fellowship at Brigham and Women’s hospital in Boston and to her career as a reproductive surgeon.  Her interests also include PMOS (formerly PCOS) and development of new treatments for infertility in this setting.  From being a prior Robotics Director for 15+ years to research related to endometriosis, fibroids and PMOS, Dr. Estes thrives on innovation. Her role in the Society of Reproductive Surgeons brings together reproductive surgical management and fertility and education for future physicians.  She manages complex infertility patients with a variety of diagnoses to work through the fertility journey.

Disclosures

Dr. Estes is a principal investigator associated with the May Health Study, which applies to PMOS.

Dr. Duncan has a sponsored research agreement with Merck, has served on advisory boards for Merck and Ovelle, and has consulting agreements with Nestle. 

Educational content only — not a substitute for professional medical advice. Opinions are those of the speakers and not necessarily of Afaxys. Visit Afaxys.com for resources.

In our seventh episode of Afaxys Candid Conversations in Public Health, we discuss a truly “hot” topic—menopause. As a public benefit corporation devoted to serving safety net clinicians and their patients, Afaxys recognizes the disparities in menopause care for women seeking treatment at public health clinics, so we brought in world-renowned experts to talk about the ins and outs of menopause care, particularly during perimenopause. The esteemed Dr. Steven Goldstein and Dr. Lauren Streicher joined us for a lively discussion around the importance of individualizing treatment based on patient goals and medical history rather than following one-size-fits-all approaches. 

• Dr. Steven Goldstein is Past President of the International Menopause Society, Past President of the North American Menopause Society, and Past President of the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine. He currently is a professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at NYU School of Medicine. He has authored over 150 peer-reviewed articles and 60 book chapters. He authored the book Could It Be Perimenopause 27 years ago, as well as the first Textbook of Perimenopausal Gynecology 24 years ago.
• Dr. Lauren Streicher is a clinical professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine. She is also a Certified Menopause Practitioner of the Menopause Society and the founding medical director of the Northwestern Medicine Center for Sexual Medicine and Menopause. Dr. Streicher is a best-selling author of multiple books and the host of the podcast series “Inside Information” as well as “Come Again,” an educational audio series for patients and clinicians. She is a noted and sought-after authority in menopause and sexual health, having appeared on The Today Show, Good Morning America, the Oprah Winfrey show, and many other media outlets.

Disclosures:

Dr. Goldstein is a speaker for Bayer and Astellas, served on an advisory board for Astellas, and served on a safety monitoring board for Bayer and Mithra.

Dr. Streicher is a stockholder in Sermonix and gives educational lectures to healthcare professionals on behalf of Bayer Pharmaceuticals.

Resources:

• Dama Assist – an AI clinical co-pilot for hormone health
• Menopause: The Inside Info with Dr. Lauren Streicher (Substack)
• Inside Information Podcast: Menopause, Midlife and More with Dr. Lauren Streicher
• Come Again for Healthcare Clinicians with Dr. Lauren Streicher
• World Class CME Survival Skills for WH – Experts Teach Menopause April 17-19 in New York City

Educational content only — not a substitute for professional medical advice. Opinions are those of the speakers and not necessarily of Afaxys. Visit Afaxys.com for resources.

In our sixth episode of Afaxys Candid Conversations in Public Health, we explore the world of contraception misinformation, disinformation and negative sentiment on social media. With our expert guests, Dr. Donna Adams-Pickett and Dr. Sarah Ann Anderson-Burnett, we define what contraception mis-/disinformation is (and what it is not). We walk through how clinicians can assess what sort of information their patients are seeing online, including how to query patients and tools such as Bedsider Providers+. Our experts guide us through talking with patients about online contraception information, including acknowledgment of their worries and fears that are often the foundation of misinformation belief. Should clinicians post on social media to educate their patients? Our experts say YES and talk about how to get started.

• Donna Adams-Pickett, PhD, MD, FACOG, is a board-certified OB/GYN, CEO of Four Girls For Girls Foundation and Afya Partners in Health Equity and Health Education.
• Sarah-Ann Anderson-Burnett, MD, PhD, FAAP, is assistant vice president of Health and Wellness and the director of Health Services and Quality Improvement at Barnard College.

Disclosures

Dr. Donna Adams-Pickett and Dr. Sarah Ann Anderson-Burnett have no disclosures.

Resources

White paper: Combating misinformation in sexual and reproductive health care 

Bedsider Providers+

Dr. Donna Adams-Pickett on social media:

·       https://www.instagram.com/drdonna_thegirlfriendsgyn/

·       https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61552125051772

·       https://www.tiktok.com/@thegirlfriendsgyn

Whitfield B, Wilkinson TA, Lindberg LD. Adolescents’ and Young Adults’ Receipt of Person-Centered Contraceptive Counseling. JAMA Netw Open. 2025;8(12):e2551287. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.51287

By Emily Pfender and colleagues:

Social Media Is Influencing Contraceptive Choice

Hormonal Contraceptive Side Effects and Nonhormonal Alternatives on TikTok: A Content Analysis

What Do Social Media Influencers Say About Birth Control? A Content Analysis of YouTube Vlogs About Birth Control

Educational content only — not a substitute for professional medical advice. Opinions are those of the speakers and not necessarily of Afaxys. Visit Afaxys.com for resources.

Educational content only — not a substitute for professional medical advice. Opinions are those of the speakers and not necessarily of Afaxys. Visit Afaxys.com for resources.

In our fifth episode of Afaxys Candid Conversations in Public Health, we discuss the recently published “StepUp” randomized controlled trial of male partner treatment for the prevention of bacterial vaginosis (BV) recurrence in female partners with our expert guests, Dr. Craig Cohen and Dr. Ina Park. Building on our previous episode 4, part 2, we take a deep dive into the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Clinical Practice Update: Concurrent Sexual Partner Therapy to Prevent Bacterial Vaginosis Recurrence. This guidance was based on the StepUp clinical trial and published after we spoke with Dr. Christina Muzny in our last episode.

Today’s discussion covers why the vaginal microbiome is central to BV, what the recent clinical trial from Australia actually showed, a critical look at the new clinical practice update, and why applying the Australian trial findings in U.S. clinics requires appreciation of the nuances of the trial population. Our experts also explore whether BV should be viewed as a sexually transmitted infection, plus the practical challenges of treating male partners. They also highlight emerging strategies—such as microbiome-restoring therapies—and key questions that still need research before widespread adoption.

Disclosures:

Dr. Cohen discloses that he is on the scientific committee for Osel and Evvy.

Dr. Park has no disclosures.

Resources:

***Free CME!*** STI Expert Hour Webinar - Male Partner Treatment to Prevent BV Recurrence: Evidence and Implementation on December 18, 2025

Male-Partner Treatment to Prevent Recurrence of Bacterial Vaginosis 

Bacterial Vaginosis — Time to Treat Male Partners 

Getting Everyone on Board to Break the Cycle of Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) Recurrence: A Qualitative Study of Partner Treatment for BV

ACOG PUBLICATIONS: CLINICAL PRACTICE UPDATE

Concurrent Sexual Partner Therapy to Prevent Bacterial Vaginosis Recurrence

Melbourne Sexual Health Centre - BV in focus

Educational content only — not a substitute for professional medical advice. Opinions are those of the speakers and not necessarily of Afaxys. Visit Afaxys.com for resources.

In our third and fourth episodes of Afaxys Candid Conversations in Public Health, we talk with Dr. Olivia van Gerwen and Dr. Christina Muzny about recent updates in prevention strategies for HIV and bacterial vaginosis (BV). 

In Episode 3 (Part 1), Dr. Olivia “Libby” van Gerwen walks us through oral versus injectable medications as HIV prevention strategies, including the findings from the Purpose 1 and Purpose 2 trials of lenacapavir. We also discuss real-world nuances of HIV PrEP care such as insurance, cost, patient preference, and the clinical logistics of these preventive medications.

In Episode 4 (Part 2), Dr. Christina Muzny tackles our tough questions: Is BV a sexually transmitted infection? Does male partner treatment prevent BV recurrence? Which patients are eligible for this type of therapy?

Learn how today’s guest experts are advancing STI prevention and improving patient care—insights every sexual and reproductive health clinician can use.

Disclosures:

Dr. van Gerwen discloses research funding from NIH and Gilead, including the Purpose 2 and Purpose 365 trials. Unrelated to this episode, she has served as a consultant for GSK, Abbott, and BioMeriuex.

Dr. Muzny discloses research funding from NIH, Gilead, BioNTech, and Abbott.

Resources for Part 1:

Bekker LG, Das M, Karim QA, et al. Twice-Yearly Lenacapavir or Daily F/TAF for HIV Prevention in Cisgender Women. New England Journal of Medicine. 2024;391(13):1179-1192. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa2407001

Kelley CF, Acevedo-Quiñones M, Agwu AL, et al. Twice-Yearly Lenacapavir for HIV Prevention in Men and Gender-Diverse Persons. New England Journal of Medicine. 2025;392(13):1261-1276. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa2411858

Resources for Part 2:

https://www.mshc.org.au/sexual-health/bacterial-vaginosis

Vodstrcil LA, Plummer EL, Fairley CK, Hocking JS, Law MG, Petoumenos K, Bateson D, Murray GL, Donovan B, Chow EPF, Chen MY, Kaldor J, Bradshaw CS; StepUp Team. Male-Partner Treatment to Prevent Recurrence of Bacterial Vaginosis. N Engl J Med. 2025 Mar 6;392(10):947-957. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2405404. PMID: 40043236.

Muzny CA, Sobel JD. Bacterial Vaginosis — Time to Treat Male Partners. New England Journal of Medicine. Published online March 6, 2025. doi:10.1056/NEJMe2500373

Educational content only — not a substitute for professional medical advice. Opinions are those of the speakers and not necessarily of Afaxys. Visit Afaxys.com for resources.

In our third and fourth episodes of Afaxys Candid Conversations in Public Health, we talk with Dr. Olivia van Gerwen and Dr. Christina Muzny about recent updates in prevention strategies for HIV and bacterial vaginosis (BV). 

In Episode 3 (Part 1), Dr. Olivia “Libby” van Gerwen walks us through oral versus injectable medications as HIV prevention strategies, including the findings from the Purpose 1 and Purpose 2 trials of lenacapavir. We also discuss real-world nuances of HIV PrEP care such as insurance, cost, patient preference, and the clinical logistics of these preventive medications.

In Episode 4 (Part 2), Dr. Christina Muzny tackles our tough questions: Is BV a sexually transmitted infection? Does male partner treatment prevent BV recurrence? Which patients are eligible for this type of therapy?

Learn how today’s guest experts are advancing STI prevention and improving patient care—insights every sexual and reproductive health clinician can use.

Disclosures:

Dr. van Gerwen discloses research funding from NIH and Gilead, including the Purpose 2 and Purpose 365 trials. Unrelated to this episode, she has served as a consultant for GSK, Abbott, and BioMeriuex.

Dr. Muzny discloses research funding from NIH, Gilead, BioNTech, and Abbott.

Resources for Part 1:

Bekker LG, Das M, Karim QA, et al. Twice-Yearly Lenacapavir or Daily F/TAF for HIV Prevention in Cisgender Women. New England Journal of Medicine. 2024;391(13):1179-1192. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa2407001

Kelley CF, Acevedo-Quiñones M, Agwu AL, et al. Twice-Yearly Lenacapavir for HIV Prevention in Men and Gender-Diverse Persons. New England Journal of Medicine. 2025;392(13):1261-1276. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa2411858

Resources for Part 2:

https://www.mshc.org.au/sexual-health/bacterial-vaginosis

Vodstrcil LA, Plummer EL, Fairley CK, Hocking JS, Law MG, Petoumenos K, Bateson D, Murray GL, Donovan B, Chow EPF, Chen MY, Kaldor J, Bradshaw CS; StepUp Team. Male-Partner Treatment to Prevent Recurrence of Bacterial Vaginosis. N Engl J Med. 2025 Mar 6;392(10):947-957. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2405404. PMID: 40043236.

Muzny CA, Sobel JD. Bacterial Vaginosis — Time to Treat Male Partners. New England Journal of Medicine. Published online March 6, 2025. doi:10.1056/NEJMe2500373

Educational content only — not a substitute for professional medical advice. Opinions are those of the speakers and not necessarily of Afaxys. Visit Afaxys.com for resources.

In our second episode of Afaxys Candid Conversations in Public Health, we talk with Dr. Jen Karlin to explore how clinicians can stay up to date in sexual and reproductive healthcare while balancing evolving evidence, patient needs, and time constraints. The discussion covers practical continuing education strategies and trusted resources like Bedsider Providers+, the CDC’s Medical Eligibility Criteria (MEC) and Selected Practice Recommendations (SPR), and the Clinician Training Center for Sexual and Reproductive Health (CTC-SRH). 

The conversation also spotlights the Reproductive Health Hotline (Repro-HH) — a free, nationwide service from UCSF that provides real-time, confidential support for clinicians managing questions about contraceptive care and reproductive health. 

Whether you’re a provider looking to strengthen your knowledge or simply curious about how medical education adapts to modern challenges, this episode offers valuable insight and resources to help improve patient access and confidence in care.

Resources:

1-844-REPRO-HH (1-844-737-7644)

Repro Health Hotline: https://reprohh.ucsf.edu

Innovating Education: https://www.innovating-education.org/

Bedsider Providers Plus: https://providers.bedsider.org/membership/

CTC-SRH: https://ctcsrh.org/

Reproductive Health Access Project: https://www.reproductiveaccess.org/

CDC-MEC: https://www.cdc.gov/contraception/hcp/usmec/index.html

CDC-SPR: https://www.cdc.gov/contraception/hcp/usspr/index.html

National Clinician Consultation Center: https://nccc.ucsf.edu/

Educational content only — not a substitute for professional medical advice. Opinions are those of the speakers and not necessarily of Afaxys. Visit Afaxys.com for resources.

In our premiere episode of Afaxys Candid Conversations in Public Health, host Beth Attias sits down with leading experts Dr. Tammy Bennett and Dr. Kristin Metcalf-Wilson from the Clinical Training Center for Sexual and Reproductive Health (CTC-SRH), along with Dr. Kristen Feldman of Afaxys.

Together, they explore the evolving landscape of STI clinical care in 2025—highlighting rising trends like the resurgence of syphilis, the growing role of point-of-care and at-home testing, and the importance of addressing gaps in provider education and access.

Listeners will gain practical insights into:

• How frontline clinicians are adapting to changing STI trends
• The critical role of training and toolkits in public health
• Expanding access through telemedicine, PrEP/PEP services, and innovative testing models
• Why collaboration across providers and systems is key to preventing congenital syphilis and improving sexual health outcomes

Tune in for a candid, timely discussion on the challenges—and solutions—shaping the future of sexual and reproductive health care.

Disclosure:

Drs. Bennett and Metcalf-Wilson do not have any relevant financial disclosures.

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Educational content only — not a substitute for professional medical advice. Opinions are those of the speakers and not necessarily of Afaxys. Visit Afaxys.com for resources.