PPMW LAUNCHES TELEHEALTH HERPES TREATMENT THROUGH PLANNED PARENTHOOD DIRECT, MEETING RISING DEMAND FOR STI CARE

As provider shortages and health center closures strain care access nationwide—especially in rural areas, Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan Washington, DC removes barriers to care with its new, convenient, and discreet telehealth HSV treatment.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 31, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Planned Parenthood Direct (PPDirect), the Planned Parenthood app that connects patients across the country to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services, is now offering herpes simplex virus (HSV) treatment in DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia, plus additional states.

As the nationwide shortage of SRH providers leaves many people without in-person care in their community — particularly in rural and underserved areas — PPDirect is deeply committed to ensuring patients receive critical care, no matter what. With this new service offering, patients in the DC metropolitan region who have been diagnosed with HSV-1 (oral) or HSV-2 (oral or genital) now have a safe and secure option for receiving treatment without needing to leave their homes. 

An estimated 1 in 8 adults has genital herpes, and nearly 1 in 2 has oral herpes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Despite how common it is, HSV remains one of the most misunderstood and stigmatized sexual health conditions in the country. PPMW launched this service with Planned Parenthood Direct to meet the demand for private, telehealth treatment in the DC metropolitan region. PPDirect has already helped hundreds of patients across the country receive telehealth HSV treatment, many of whom don't have easy access to care in their local communities.

In 2025, significant federal funding cuts made it even harder for people to find timely, compassionate care from wherever they are, including here in the DC metropolitan area. For patients in areas where care options are scarce or non-existent, telehealth is not just convenient — it's essential.

"We built this service so patients with HSV can receive essential treatment from trusted Planned Parenthood providers from wherever they are, with complete privacy and with zero judgment," said Laura Mackay, president and CEO of PPDirect.

"PPMW is dedicated to serving our communities by meeting patients where they are with the care they need. With the launch of HSV care via PPDirect, we're filling a critical gap in care for many people in our region," explained PPMW Chief Operating Officer Takina Wilson. 

How It Works

Through the PPDirect app, patients who have been diagnosed with HSV-1 or HSV-2 complete a confidential clinical questionnaire. A licensed Planned Parenthood provider reviews the patient's medical information and, if appropriate, prescribes treatment which is shipped quickly and discreetly to a local pharmacy. Treatment is available for active outbreaks as well as outbreak prevention. Patients in need of a diagnosis can visit their local PPMW health center to get tested and, if needed, receive their ongoing treatment via PPDirect.

Where Care Is Available

PPDirect's HSV treatment is now available to patients who have been diagnosed with HSV-1 or HSV-2 in Alaska, Arizona, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, Washington D.C., and Wisconsin.

Patients can access care through the PPDirect app via the web, the App Store, or Google Play. Learn more by visiting ppdirect.org.

About Planned Parenthood Direct

Planned Parenthood Direct connects patients across the country to trusted Planned Parenthood providers to receive sexual and reproductive telehealth care from the comfort of home or on the go. Regardless of proximity to a health center, patients can get birth control, emergency contraception, UTI treatment, HSV treatment, and medication abortion (in select states, where legal) delivered discreetly to their home or local pharmacy. By connecting patients to these services through the web and mobile apps, Planned Parenthood Direct is ensuring patients can get quality care, wherever they are. 

Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan Washington, DC (PPMW) provides high-quality, affordable reproductive health care; promotes education programs that empower all individuals to make informed reproductive choices; and protects the right to make those choices. PPMW is the oldest and largest provider of family planning services in Metropolitan Washington, serving Washington, DC; Montgomery and Prince George's Counties in Maryland; and Northern Virginia.

SOURCE Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan Washington, D.C.