What is Doxy PEP?
PEP stands for post-exposure prophylaxis. Doxycycline (Doxy) is an antibiotic which has been used for many years to treat various infections as well as acne. Doxy PEP is the use of doxycycline pills following a potential sexual exposure taken to help reduce the chances of getting syphilis, gonorrhea, or chlamydia.
Background
No vaccines and few chemoprophylaxis options exist for the prevention of bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STIs), specifically syphilis, chlamydia and gonorrhea. These infections have increased in the United States and disproportionately affect gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women (TGW). In three large randomized controlled trials, 200mg of doxycycline taken within 72 hours after sex has been shown to reduce syphilis and chlamydia infections by >70% and gonococcal infections by approximately 50% – per the CDC website.
How is it used?
Doxycycline 200mg taken ideally once within 24 hours following a sexual encounter but up to 72 hours after the encounter.
Who should consider Doxy PEP?
CDC recommends that MSM and TGW who have had a bacterial STI (specifically syphilis, chlamydia, or gonorrhea) diagnosed in the past 12 months should receive counseling that Doxy PEP can used as a postexposure prophylaxis to reduce the risk of these infections.