A new strategy called doxyPEP is a way to reduce your risk of STIs even if you’re having sex without condoms. With doxyPEP, you take the antibiotic doxycycline after oral, anal, and vaginal/front hole sex. The difference between doxyPEP and getting treated for an STI comes down to two main things:
- You’re taking treatment medications before you have symptoms
- You’re taking treatment medications before you test positive for an STI
In current studies, doxyPEP was over 65% effective at reducing the risk of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis. DoxyPEP can be used regardless of your HIV status, but it may be slightly less effective at preventing these STIs if you’re already living with HIV.
Doxycycline is safe to take daily if you’re having frequent sex. Remember, the current guidance for doxyPEP is to take medications after sex, not used before sex like PrEP for HIV. We don’t yet know if taking doxycycline daily or before sex has any added benefit for preventing STIs like we do for HIV PrEP.
Since these studies are new, it may be necessary to educate your provider about the details.
Find out how to get doxyPEP and more info here.