According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 1 million STIs are acquired every day across the globe – the majority being asymptomatic. This includes everything from human papillomavirus (HPV) to gonorrhea, to herpes simplex virus (HSV).
Many STIs can be easily treated with antibiotics when caught early, but some can lead to long-term health complications like issues with your reproductive systems and an increased risk of certain types of cancers.
While there are vaccines available to protect against some STIs, like certain types of HPV, up until now, options have been limited when it comes to protecting yourself from sexually transmitted infections.
Generally, people rely on using barrier methods like condoms and getting tested regularly, if anything. But medical innovations have given people new options.
You’ve heard of the morning-after pill for pregnancy (plan B), and now there’s one for STIs – DoxyPEP.
What Is DoxyPEP?
Many refer to it as the morning-after pill for STIs. DoxyPEP is an antibiotic that you may already be familiar with – doxycycline.
To use doxycycline for STI prevention, it’s recommended to take the medication as soon as possible after having unprotected sex, and no more than 72 hours after possible exposure. DoxyPEP is typically prescribed as one 200-milligram tablet or two 100-milligram pills.
You may have heard of HIV PEP, or post-exposure prophylaxis, which helps to prevent the contraction of HIV after possible exposure. DoxyPEP works in a similar way.
PEP is a type of medication that you take after possible exposure to an illness, to prevent it from developing into a serious health concern. DoxyPEP is used to prevent the transmission of STIs caused by bacteria, specifically syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia.
Who Is DoxyPEP For?
Any sexually active person who may be exposed to STIs could benefit from taking DoxyPEP as needed. That being said, the researchers behind the medication specifically recommend it for transwomen, as well as cis-men who have sex with other men or trans women, and have had at least one case of syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia in the last twelve months.
DoxyPEP can also be prescribed for straight, cis-gender men, but currently, there are no studies on the efficacy of this medication on them.
Unfortunately, research on DoxyPEP has found that it’s not effective for women. Hopefully, the development of DoxyPEP helps pave the way for STI-preventing medications that protect a wider array of people.
While it’s generally recommended, it’s not required that you’ve had a recent STI to take DoxyPEP. Some providers may recommend it if you have multiple sexual partners, which increases their and your chances of contracting an STI.
Common Questions About DoxyPEP
Q: Where can you get DoxyPEP?
It may depend on what country or area you’re in, but because it’s an antibiotic, you generally need a prescription to get DoxyPEP. You may be able to get this prescription from your primary care provider or at a sexual health clinic.
Luckily, DoxyPEP is generally covered by insurance or may be provided free of charge at certain clinics.
Q: How effective is DoxyPEP?
DoxyPEP has been found to reduce the risk of chlamydia and syphilis by at least 80%, and gonorrhea by 55-60%. Again, it’s only been found to be effective in cis-men, primarily queer men, and transwomen.
Q: How often can you take DoxyPEP?
Although studies on DoxyPEP are limited, some providers claim you can take it as often as every day, as long as you don’t exceed the daily dosage.
As with other antibiotics, it may be possible to develop drug resistance to doxycycline, however, studies that followed patients for a year showed no signs of drug resistance.
Q: Does DoxyPEP have any side effects?
Many people experience no side effects after taking DoxyPEP, but some may develop an upset stomach or sensitivity to the sun, especially if they have fair skin.
If you have an allergy to certain types of antibiotics, you may want to avoid taking DoxyPEP.
In more serious cases, some people develop side effects like bad headaches or changes to their vision. It’s important to note that vision and hearing changes are possible signs of syphilis, so you may need to get tested if those develop.
Q: Does DoxyPEP protect against HIV?
No, DoxyPEP, which is an antibiotic, does not protect against HIV, which is a virus. It also doesn’t protect against herpes or HPV.
If you think you may have been exposed to HIV, it’s important to your provider as soon as possible to get HIV PEP. There is also a medication you can take to prevent HIV before having sex, called HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis, PrEP.
Other Ways To Practice Safer Sex
There’s no such thing as entirely “safe sex”, but you can practice “safer sex”. Since DoxyPEP has only been found to be effective in certain populations, mostly queer cis-men and transwomen, it’s important to take other steps to help prevent the transmission of STIs.
Here are some of our top safer sex tips:
- Use barrier methods like condoms and dental dams
- Get tested after having sex with a new partner
- Openly discuss STI testing and any infections you have with new partners
Sex is an opportunity for pleasure and connection. It’s so much easier to feel good in your body when you’re actively taking steps to protect yourself and your partner from STIs.