American Sexual Health Association

What American Sexual Health Association does

The American Sexual Health Association (ASHA) is a US nonprofit founded in 1914 that delivers science-based, stigma-free sexual health information and resources to the general public, healthcare providers, and underserved communities. Its core platform is the ashasexualhealth.org website and an ecosystem of affiliated sub-brands: ASHA Test Your Way (at-home sexual health testing access via Diagnostics Your Way), I Wanna Know (youth-focused sexual health education), the National Cervical Cancer Coalition (cervical cancer prevention and HPV resources), and YES Means TEST (STI testing awareness for teens and young adults). ASHA also runs targeted public health campaigns such as Health Is Power for African American men ages 18-30, and produces provider-facing e-learning, including the Words Matter five-module program on minimizing STI stigma in clinical settings.

Underlying technology is a content-publishing and partnership-distribution platform rather than a software product: ASHA relies on curated editorial content, social media toolkits for partner organizations, email newsletters, and integration with at-home testing fulfillment partners (OraSure, Diagnostics Your Way, LetsGetChecked, Signal) and public-sector testing programs (Together TakeMeHome, TakeMeHome, I Want The Kit). The organization has no mobile app, no public API, and no proprietary diagnostic technology; it functions primarily as an information and referral layer sitting between consumers, state health departments (Florida, Colorado, Idaho, Alabama, DC), universities (Emory, Johns Hopkins, University of Michigan), and federal collaborators (CDC, NASTAD).

ASHA's business model is nonprofit, donation-funded (Donate Now CTA on the homepage), with supplementary program-related revenue from at-home test kit partnerships and likely grants from public health partners. Customer segments include sexually active adults (primary), teens and young adults ages 14-24, African American men 18-30, healthcare providers, and uninsured or low-income individuals seeking free testing. The organization employs 11-50 people, operates from Research Triangle Park, and is currently led by Interim President and CEO Rebecca Karpinski.

Name

American Sexual Health Association

Legal name

American Sexual Health Association

Website

https://ashasexualhealth.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1914

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ASHA is a 110-year-old US nonprofit that provides science-based, stigma-free sexual health information, education, and at-home testing access to the general public, teens and young adults, healthcare providers, and underserved populations through its website and partner programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sexual Health Education and Public Health Information

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Health Care and Social Assistance (62)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Sexual Health & Relationship Wellness Education (EDAAAHAM)

Keywords

• Sexual health education
• STI prevention resources
• Reproductive health information
• Public health awareness
• Patient education materials

Headquarters

HQ city

Charlotte

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Support: ASHA is a nonprofit organization that relies on donations from the public to support its educational programs and resources. The website features a 'Donate Now' button indicating donation-based funding.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

ASHA operates a network of digital platforms that deliver science-based, stigma-free sexual health education on STIs, contraception, reproductive health, and relationships. The organization connects consumers to free or low-cost at-home STI and HIV testing through partnerships with health departments, universities, and diagnostics companies, and provides structured e-learning and professional resources for healthcare providers.

Product overview

ASHA operates a platform of interconnected websites and campaigns providing sexual health information, education, and resources. The core offering is the main ASHA website (ashasexualhealth.org) which provides comprehensive STI information and resources. This is supported by specialized sub-brands including ASHA Test Your Way for home testing products, I Wanna Know for youth-focused content, and the National Cervical Cancer Coalition. ASHA also runs targeted campaigns like YES Means TEST and Health Is Power, offers e-learning modules for healthcare providers, and provides digital publications and newsletters.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ASHA Website (ashasexualhealth.org) Main ASHA website providing comprehensive sexual health information, STI/STD resources, testing information, contraception guidance, reproductive health content, and relationship information for the general public.
• ASHA Test Your Way Dedicated home sexual health testing platform offering information and access to at-home STI test kits, partnered with Diagnostics Your Way. Directs users to free state programs and commercial test kit options.
• I Wanna Know (iwannaknow.org) ASHA-affiliated website providing age-appropriate sexual health information and resources tailored for teens and young adults.
• National Cervical Cancer Coalition (NCCC) ASHA-affiliated coalition website focused on cervical cancer prevention, HPV education, screening information, and support for those affected by cervical cancer.
• Words Matter: Minimizing STI Stigma in Healthcare Settings Structured e-learning program consisting of a webinar and five modules that explore stigma around STIs, the impact of bias on patient care, and language choices to minimize stigma in clinical settings, including a self-assessment module. Targeted at healthcare providers.
• ASHA Email Newsletter (eNews) Periodic email newsletter delivering the latest news on sexual health topics to subscribers, with a separate provider-focused version for healthcare professionals.

Quantifiable outcome

• 91% of young people would use at-home STI testing if free
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core, flagship and regional.

• Annenberg Public Policy Center (University of Pennsylvania)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026Conducts annual surveys on STI knowledge and public awareness that ASHA references in educational materials and public communications.
• Emory UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates on the Together TakeMeHome and TakeMeHome programs providing free HIV self-tests and at-home sexual health testing kits across the US. ASHA's Test Your Way platform partners with Diagnostics Your Way for home testing access.
• Building Healthy Online CommunitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in TakeMeHome and Together TakeMeHome programs providing free at-home sexual health testing to communities nationwide.
• U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey collaborator on Together TakeMeHome HIV self-test program. ASHA's educational content aligns with CDC guidelines and recommendations for STI testing and prevention.
• NASTADcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners with TakeMeHome program enabling state and local health departments to offer free in-home sexual health tests to eligible community members.
• OraSurecoreTechnology or IntegrationProvides HIV self-test kits for the Together TakeMeHome program making free testing available to people 17+ in the US and Puerto Rico.
• Johns Hopkins University School of MedicinecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOriginator of I Want The Kit (IWTK) project offering free and confidential in-home specimen collection and lab-based testing for STIs in 8 states.
• Diagnostics Your WaycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner providing easy access to home sexual health testing through ASHA Test Your Way platform.
• Florida Department of HealthregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProvides free HIV self-collection test kits by mail to Florida residents through the KnowYourHIVStatus initiative.
• Colorado Department of HealthregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartners with Test Yourself Colorado to provide free at-home STI/HIV testing once a year for Colorado residents 18+.
• Idaho Prevention and Care ProgramregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartners with LetsGetChecked to provide free STI and HIV tests to Idaho residents.
• Alabama Department of Public HealthregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProvides STD/HIV home specimen collection and laboratory testing kits by mail for Alabama residents and those on PrEP therapy.
• DC Department of HealthregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGetCheckedDC program provides free confidential testing for HIV, chlamydia, and gonorrhea to DC residents.
• University of MichiganminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearchers from University of Michigan conducted study on young people's preferences for at-home STI testing, with findings published in Journal of Adolescent Health.
• National Cervical Cancer Coalition (NCCC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerASHA's affiliated coalition focused on cervical cancer prevention, HPV education, and support for those affected by cervical cancer.
• I Wanna Know (iwannaknow.org)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorASHA's youth-focused website providing age-appropriate sexual health information and resources for teens and young adults.
• ASHA Test Your Way (ashatestyourway.com)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDedicated platform for at-home sexual health testing products and information, partnering with Diagnostics Your Way.
• Yes Means TESTcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCampaign making STD testing conversation approachable for teens and young adults through engaging messaging and social media toolkits.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• GLSEN: Adjacent peer focused on LGBTQ+ inclusive education and safe schools. Partial overlap with ASHA's content on stigma reduction and youth audiences, though centered on K-12 environments rather than sexual health per se.
• HealthyWomen: Adjacent peer in women's health education. Overlaps with ASHA on cervical cancer (NCCC), HPV, and contraception content but with a broader women's-health scope beyond sexual health.

Direct peers

• Bedsider: Direct peer providing science-based birth control information and decision tools. Comparable to ASHA in approach (free, stigma-free sexual health content for adults) though narrower in scope to contraception.
• Scarleteen: Direct peer providing sex education and information specifically for teens and young adults. Highly comparable to ASHA's I Wanna Know sub-brand in audience, content style, and digital-first delivery.
• SIECUS (Sexuality Information and Education Council of the US): Direct peer in sex education advocacy and resource provision. SIECUS focuses on sexuality education policy and curriculum — closely aligned with ASHA's I Wanna Know and provider-facing education work.
• National Coalition of STD Directors (NCSD): Direct peer in STI prevention, focused on public health department program support. Comparable to ASHA's role as a national intermediary for STI testing programs and CDC/state department partnerships.
• Advocates for Youth: Direct peer in youth sexual and reproductive health education and advocacy. Comparable to ASHA in youth-focused content and the YES Means TEST campaign audience, with a stronger policy-advocacy orientation.
• Planned Parenthood Federation of America: Direct peer providing sexual and reproductive health information and services. Highly comparable to ASHA in mission (STI testing information, contraception education, stigma-free content) and audience (sexually active adults and youth), with substantially larger scale.

Others

• The Trevor Project: Adjacent organization focused on LGBTQ youth mental health crisis intervention. Comparable audience to ASHA's youth content but distinct service category (mental health crisis lines rather than sexual health information).

Broad incumbents

• National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO): Broad incumbent in US local public health infrastructure, including STI prevention programs. Comparable to ASHA as a partner in state/local public health testing initiatives, though operating at government-association scale rather than consumer-facing.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/infoASHA

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about American Sexual Health Association