An STI ‘morning-after’ pill? What you need to know about DoxyPEP — and who can get it – CBC

A common antibiotic is a promising new tool in reducing risk of getting syphilis, chlamydia and gonorrhea

Jul 28, 2024

Doctors working to limit the spread of syphilis, chlamydia and gonorrhea — and their potential complications if left untreated — are turning to a promising new means of prevention.

It’s known as DoxyPEP, which stands for doxycycline (an antibiotic) post-exposure prophylaxis.

Some liken it to a “morning-after pill,” as you take it after sexual activity that may have left you at risk of contracting an STI.

For Dustin Hutton-Alcorn, a 33-year-old gay man in Abbotsford, B.C., having DoxyPEP on hand offers him some peace of mind that he has an additional means of protecting his sexual health.

“[It] allows me to be a responsible adult, especially in the queer community,” he told CBC News.

The efficacy of DoxyPEP was studied in people at elevated risk for STIs: two-spirit, gay, bisexual, and queer cisgender men and transgender women. The small but growing number of studies showed it significantly reduced the risk of contracting syphilis, chlamydia and — to a lesser extent — gonorrhea among those groups.

Read more: https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/doxy-pep-sti-prevention-1.7273191