In 2025, the field of reproductive tract infection prevention and treatment in China has yielded fruitful results and achieved steady progress, with significant breakthroughs made in key dimensions such as the formulation of experts' consensus, the innovation of diagnostic technologies, and the construction of talent echelons. These achievements have laid a solid foundation for improving the standardization of reproductive health diagnosis and treatment and safeguarding women's health rights and interests. Obstetrics and Gynecology Network has specially invited Professor Liao Qinping from Beijing Tsinghua Chang Gung Hospital to systematically collate and in-depth interpret the annual core progress, technology transformation practices and future development directions, so as to provide authoritative guidance for the sustainable development of the industry.
PART 01 Core Progress and Achievements in the Field of Reproductive Tract Infections in 2025
2025 has been a year of intensive and pragmatic work in the field of reproductive tract infections, with industry colleagues achieving remarkable results in consensus formulation, talent training and other aspects:
Two Experts' Consensuses Released to Solve Clinical Diagnosis and Treatment Dilemmas
Two important experts' consensuses were officially released this year, providing authoritative guidance for clinical practice. Chinese Experts' Consensus on the Diagnosis and Treatment of Genital Mycoplasma Infections (2025 Edition), led by Professor Zhang Dai from Peking University First Hospital, pools the collective wisdom of colleagues in the infection group and effectively addresses many puzzles in the diagnosis and treatment of mycoplasma infections. Experts' Consensus on the Diagnosis and Treatment of Fertility-related Chronic Endometritis (2025 Edition), completed under the leadership of Professor Xue Fengxia from Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, has improved the diagnosis and treatment level of chronic endometritis (CE) and contributed to improving the reproductive outcomes of patients. After the release of the consensuses, a large number of interpretation and promotion activities have been carried out in the field, effectively transforming academic achievements into practical clinical guidelines.
Emphasis on Talent Echelon Construction to Facilitate Long-term Industry Development
In addition to the output of academic achievements, the training of young doctors has become one of the key tasks of the year. By organizing national lecture competitions and other forms, platforms for the growth of young physicians have been built, accelerating the cultivation of successors in the field of obstetric and gynecological infections and injecting new vitality into the sustainable development of the industry.
PART 02 Breakthrough from "Feasible" to "Practical"
The transformation from "technically feasible" to "clinically practical" is a key issue faced by basic research, clinical application and industrial development, and also an important exploration direction beneficial to the country and the people. In recent years, we have focused on the field of female microecology diagnosis, strived to solve transformation problems, and achieved effective connection between technology and clinical practice.
Limitations of Traditional Technologies and Transformation Pain Points
Previous vaginal microecology testing mostly relied on manual or semi-automated methods, which had obvious shortcomings: poor testing consistency, rough operation procedures, and significant human influence on sampling, staining, slide reading and other links, resulting in insufficient stability of testing results, which was difficult to meet the needs of standardized clinical diagnosis and treatment.
Practice of Balancing Innovation and Clinical Accessibility
To solve the above problems, after years of exploration, we have introduced artificial intelligence (AI) technology into the testing system to realize the intelligent upgrading of vaginal microecology testing. From 2024 to 2025, supporting technologies such as liquid-based sampling and preservation, and standardized slide staining have been further improved, forming an in-depth testing scheme of "liquid-based + AI". This innovation has not only greatly improved testing efficiency and accuracy, but also lowered the threshold of technology application, making it possible for grassroots hospitals to promote and apply it, and successfully achieving a balance between scientific innovation and clinical accessibility.
PART 03 Key Future Research Directions and Development Paths
Combined with the global frontier trends in reproductive health development, the field of reproductive tract infections needs to focus on major scientific issues, technological innovation and clinical transformation needs, and prioritize the following research directions:
Clinical Dilemmas of Recurrent Infections
At present, recurrent bacterial vaginosis (BV) and vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) remain clinical challenges. The annual recurrence rate of BV is as high as 50%-60%, and recurrent cases have potential differences from ordinary cases; recurrent VVC is faced with problems such as lack of drugs and prominent drug resistance. In the future, through basic research, it is necessary to deeply explore the gene variation, drug-resistant gene generation mechanism of such diseases, as well as related influencing factors such as human development or genetic defects, so as to provide theoretical support for early identification and precise treatment.
Optimized Application of Molecular Biology Detection Technology
Molecular biology detection has the advantage of high sensitivity, but there is a problem of "overdiagnosis" in its application in the field of reproductive tract infections—Gardnerella, Candida spores and other microorganisms present in healthy people may be misjudged as positive results. In the future, through integrated basic and clinical research, it is necessary to clarify the applicable conditions and judgment standards of molecular biology detection, solve the inherent defect of excessive sensitivity, so that this technology can not only accurately diagnose diseases, but also avoid over-treatment, and give full play to its value in disease detection and microecological evaluation.
Research and Development of Microecological Preparations
The research and development of microecological preparations in China has entered a stage of rapid development, with huge market demand potential. Future research and development need to break through the limitation of "single Lactobacillus", and develop specific strain preparations according to the pathological characteristics of different reproductive tract infectious diseases. At the same time, we should follow the integrated model of "production, education, research, application and enterprise", promote the in-depth integration of scientific research achievements and industrial application, and make microecological preparations better meet the needs of personalized clinical treatment.
Summary
The achievements in 2025 have laid a solid foundation for the field of reproductive tract infections, and the future research directions have pointed out the development path. It is believed that with the joint efforts of industry colleagues, through continuous scientific innovation, technological transformation and clinical practice, more Chinese wisdom and solutions will be contributed to the global reproductive health cause.
Expert Profile
Professor Liao Qinping
Beijing Tsinghua Chang Gung Hospital
Chief Physician, Professor, Doctoral Supervisor, Tenured Professor of Tsinghua University; currently serving as Director of the Department of Women and Children and Director of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Beijing Tsinghua Chang Gung Hospital; recipient of the Special Government Allowance of the State Council.
Main Disciplinary Research Directions: Gynecologic oncology, female reproductive tract infections, female sexual medicine. Holder of 4 national invention patents.
Graduated from the Medical Department of Peking University Health Science Center in 1982. From January 1994 to July 1996, she worked as a postdoctoral fellow in the Obstetrics and Gynecology Laboratory of the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, USA, engaging in clinical basic research in obstetrics and gynecology for more than two years. From January to March 2003, she worked as a senior visiting scholar in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Freiburg, Germany, conducting clinical exchanges with foreign colleagues, and her clinical skills were highly praised by foreign counterparts.
In long-term clinical work, she has mastered solid basic theoretical knowledge of obstetrics and gynecology and accumulated rich clinical experience. She is a leading figure in clinical and basic research on obstetric and gynecological infections and female vaginal microecology in China.
She has supervised more than 90 graduated doctoral and master's students, and 9 postdoctoral fellows who have completed their programs. She has presided over more than 20 scientific research projects including National Natural Science Foundation projects, key projects of the Ministry of Science and Technology's major special projects, and key projects of the Ministry of Health's industry funds. She has published more than 400 influential Chinese and English papers in core domestic and foreign obstetrics and gynecology journals such as Fertil Steril, J Clin Microbiol, and Front Microbiol, with a cumulative impact factor of 145; she has edited and participated in compiling more than 50 books; she has been employed as a special expert for Xinhua Net's major health popularization, and has published popular science articles or conducted popular science interviews in many official media.
She has won honors such as Beijing March 8th Red Banner Pacesetter, First Prize of Huaxia Medical Science and Technology Award, First Prize of Tianjin Science and Technology Progress Award, First Prize of Science and Technology Award of China Association of Chinese Medicine, Third Prize of Beijing Science and Technology Award, Second Prize of Science and Technology Progress Award of the Ministry of Education, Second Prize of Scientific and Technological Achievement Award of National Maternal and Child Health Science and Technology Award, as well as the 5th "Good Obstetrician and Gynecologist - Lin Qiaozhi Cup", Virtuous and Skilled "Good Doctor of the People", and Advanced Individual in Beijing Women and Children's Work.
Main Compiled Books: ATLAS OF FEMALE VAGINAL MICROECOLOGY, Atlas of Endometrial Cytopathology, Atlas of Female Vaginal Microecology, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Obstetric and Gynecological Syndromes, Cervical Cytology and Histopathology (2nd Edition), Clinical Practice of Oncofertility—Clinical Problems and Solutions, Clinical Pharmacotherapy Series - Infectious Diseases, etc.
Editor: Lily