Two Studies Show Doxy PEP is a Winning Strategy
Two studies published in this month’s JAMA Internal Medicine offer encouraging findings about the use of Doxy PEP.
Learn More About Doxy PEP from Three People Who Take It
Doxy PEP (doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis) is a strategy that involves taking an oral antibiotic after condomless sex to prevent chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis, three very common sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Doxy PEP can be a component of someone’s safer sex practices. Safer sex practices (like using condoms and having recommended tests) are also important. Doxy PEP has been proven to reduce the risk of getting bacterial STIs. Many people who take it say it gives them peace of mind in their relationships and sex life, but you don’t have to just take our word for it. We sat down with Oscar Alexis, Efthimios, and Maxfield Haynes to talk about doxy PEP.
Why should people consider using doxy PEP for STI prevention?
Doxy PEP is an important prevention tool for people who may be at risk of bacterial STIs, but the users we interviewed told us there were other reasons to consider. Oscar told us that using doxy PEP can give patients a sense of relief and reduce worry about STIs from unprotected sex. Oscar said, “I think it can just give someone like a bit of an ease of mind.” Maxfield went as far as to say, “I think that doxy PEP is one of the most amazing tools in modern medicine…it drastically reduces my worry about contracting something from a potentially risky encounter.”
As Oscar pointed out, however, doxy PEP is meant to complement prevention methods like condoms. He noted, “I should also reiterate that it [doxy PEP] doesn’t replace other safe sex practices.”
I think that doxy PEP is one of the most amazing tools in modern medicine...it drastically reduces my worry about contracting something from a potentially risky encounter.
Maxfield Haynes
How do you bring up doxy PEP with your health care provider?
Talking to your health care provider about sexual health, STI prevention, and doxy PEP should be easy, but we know anything related to S-E-X can feel awkward. In fact, all of the doxy PEP users we interviewed mentioned this. Efthimios said it’s understandable “that some people might feel awkward or nervous about bringing up sexual health issues in general with their health care provider.” They suggested writing notes about what you want to talk to your provider about before the appointment.
Similarly, Oscar suggested that having some information about doxy PEP available to show your provider could help. Especially if you are unsure about how informed your provider is on sexual health. Click here for a resource that you can share with your healthcare provider about doxy PEP.
It is also important to have a provider you feel comfortable with. Oscar said, “Something I’d remind listeners and viewers is to not be afraid to be firm in your knowledge…sometimes you may have to educate and gently push your doctor to being open to new information.” Oscar also acknowledged that you might need to get a new provider and added, “I actually ended up switching to another provider who knew exactly what I was talking about when I said PrEP and doxy. So, if it’s possible, find a different provider who is well-informed.”
We should really be making sure folks are feeling heard, understood, not felt talked down to, and really felt prioritized, and that their health is important to them.
Oscar Alexis
Does doxy PEP work? What are the side effects?
Doxy PEP has been proven to reduce the risk of bacterial STIs (chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis). This matched up with the experiences of the doxy PEP users we interviewed. Maxfield says that they “haven’t tested positive for an STI in over two years because of doxy PEP.” Efthimios said they “haven’t really had anything since I started using it.”
All three of the people we interviewed mentioned some side effects of doxy PEP, including the chance of it upsetting their stomachs. Maxfield said, “It can have some negative effects on your gastrointestinal system, but I find that in order to mitigate that, I just make sure that I eat something.” None of the patients we interviewed mentioned any side effects severe enough to influence their decision to take doxy PEP.
How can healthcare providers reduce the stigma and judgment around STIs?
One thing that came up in our interviews was the need to make healthcare spaces more welcoming for all people. Oscar, Efthimios, and Maxwell all highlighted the importance of having inclusive and educated healthcare providers. Efthimios put it this way, “it’s important [for healthcare providers] to always listen and then assess what could maybe be risky, what could be prevented, what could be improved, [and] how someone could be helped. So, no judgment and [being] open for everybody and talk about anything you want to talk about.”
Maxfield emphasized that sexual health should be destigmatized, saying, “we can all find a little bit more comfort in knowing that sex is not a dirty thing. I think if we all kind of adopt that mindset and just say, hey, we all do this. We are, we are human beings. We love love. And love should be free, not something that is seen as shameful.”
It's important that everyone's included...no judgements, especially when it comes to sexual health and sexual behaviors.
Efthimios
Doxy PEP is an effective tool to help prevent bacterial STIs. Studies have shown that doxy PEP can reduce the risk of contracting chlamydia and syphilis by over 80% and gonorrhea by around 55%. When combined with other safer sex practices, including condoms and regular STI screenings, Doxy PEP can be an important part of someone’s safer sex toolbox.
Talking to the people who use this new prevention strategy really drives home the difference it is making in real people’s lives. Maxfield summed it up very well when he said, “I find that if I have a tool that can help assure my own safety, I feel much more liberated to actually go and live my life to the fullest in a way that I don’t think that previous generations could.”
To find a provider to ask if doxy PEP is right for your, search for a provider here or reach out to your primary care provider.
More to Explore
New CDC Guidelines Offer Recommendations On Doxy PEP
Doxy PEP involves taking an oral antibiotic after condomless sex to prevent bacterial STIs. Research has shown that this can reduce the possibility of contracting chlamydia by 88%, syphilis by 87%, and gonorrhea by 55%.
Doxy PEP is a New Strategy to Help Prevent STIs
Doxy PEP is the strategy of taking the antibiotic doxycycline after condomless oral or anal sex to prevent chlamydia, gonorrhea, or syphilis.
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