New York – U.S. health officials have recommended that some people consider taking an antibiotic as a morning-after pill to prevent certain sexually transmitted diseases.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has endorsed the use of doxycycline after unprotected sex to prevent infections such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, or syphilis.
CDC officials described this as the first new tool for preventing sexually transmitted infections in decades, emphasizing the urgent need for innovation. Rates of syphilis, chlamydia, and gonorrhea have been increasing for years, especially among gay and bisexual men. However, recent data suggest that cases of chlamydia and gonorrhea stabilized in 2022.
The new guideline targets gay and bisexual men and transgender women who had a sexually transmitted disease in the past year and are at high risk of re-infection. Studies have shown that doxycycline is effective for this group, but there isn’t enough evidence to extend the recommendation to others, according to the CDC.
This treatment is referred to as doxy PEP, which stands for doxycycline postexposure prophylaxis. Doctors can prescribe a single 200-milligram dose of doxycycline to be taken within three days of unprotected sex.
In October, the CDC released a draft version of these guidelines. After a period of public comments, the language was slightly revised. The changes include clarifying that the pills should be taken only once every 24 hours and that doctors should reassess the regimen with patients every three to six months.
