Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are a significant public health issue, especially among adolescents and young adults. Despite improvements in diagnostic tools and treatments, over 1 million new STIs occur daily worldwide, many of which are asymptomatic. These infections can severely affect quality of life and reproductive health, particularly when contracted at a young age. This review provides an overview of STIs’ recent epidemiology data, clinical trends, and diagnostic challenges in Italian adolescents and young adults, focusing on the Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Treponema pallidum, Thricomonas vaginalis, and Mycoplasma/Ureaplasma species. Worrying new evidence indicates that young women are at a higher risk of contracting STIs than men and multidrug-resistant strains have increased in young heterosexuals. This evidence shows a general change in lifestyle, where a lack of awareness about the risks of STI reflects a significant educational gap. To address the rising STI rates, targeted school educational interventions and innovative multidisciplinary healthcare models, such as the hub-and-spoke approach, are needed.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) represents the most common sexually transmitted infection worldwide and a major public health challenge. Nearly all sexually active individuals will acquire HPV during their lifetime, with the highest prevalence observed in adolescents and young adults shortly after sexual debut. More than 200 genotypes have been described, ranging from low-risk types, mainly responsible for benign lesions, to high-risk types, which are associated with cervical, anogenital, and head and neck cancers. While most infections are transient and spontaneously cleared by the immune system, persistent high-risk HPV can lead to precancerous lesions and malignant transformation, often in synergy with other sexually transmitted pathogens or in the context of microbiome imbalance. The introduction of vaccines and advanced screening technologies has substantially modified prevention strategies. Vaccination coverage remains heterogeneous, with persistent gaps particularly among males due to cultural, social, and educational barriers. Schools are increasingly recognized as strategic environments to promote awareness, sex education, and gender-neutral vaccination. Innovative approaches such as microbiome modulation, therapeutic vaccines, and liquid biopsy biomarkers are emerging as promising perspectives. This review aims to provide an updated overview of HPV epidemiology, clinical impact, prevention strategies, and future frontiers, with special attention to adolescents as a priority target group.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) represents the most common sexually transmitted infection worldwide and a major public health challenge. Nearly all sexually active individuals will acquire HPV during their lifetime, with the highest prevalence observed in adolescents and young adults shortly after sexual debut. More than 200 genotypes have been described, ranging from low-risk types, mainly responsible for benign lesions, to high-risk types, which are associated with cervical, anogenital, and head and neck cancers. While most infections are transient and spontaneously cleared by the immune system, persistent high-risk HPV can lead to precancerous lesions and malignant transformation, often in synergy with other sexually transmitted pathogens or in the context of microbiome imbalance. The introduction of vaccines and advanced screening technologies has substantially modified prevention strategies. Vaccination coverage remains heterogeneous, with persistent gaps particularly among males due to cultural, social, and educational barriers. Schools are increasingly recognized as strategic environments to promote awareness, sex education, and gender-neutral vaccination. Innovative approaches such as microbiome modulation, therapeutic vaccines, and liquid biopsy biomarkers are emerging as promising perspectives. This review aims to provide an updated overview of HPV epidemiology, clinical impact, prevention strategies, and future frontiers, with special attention to adolescents as a priority target group.