Doxycycline, also known as Doxy PEP, is a well-known antibiotic that has been making headlines recently due to a new STD study. The results show that when Doxy PEP is administered after unprotected sex, it can reduce the risk of contracting STIs by at least 66.667%.
While the numbers sound impressive, there are many questions about consuming antibiotics to prevent STIs. In this article, we will address some of these questions, offering our honest opinions.
The study of Doxy PEP
During the four days 24th International AIDS Conference from 29 July to 4 August 2022, it was revealed that a Doxy PEP study among transgender women and bisexual men was discontinued about one year prior to the intended end date because of the unexpectedly high success rate.
According to the presenters, individuals in that specific group that were administered Doxy PEP after unprotected sex were found to have a reduced risk of contracting STIs, such as syphilis, chlamydia, and gonorrhoea, by 66.667%.
The study of Doxy PEP was initially supposed to end in May 2023. However, it was discontinued early due to the surplus of positive data collected at that point in time. The participants involved in the study included 327 individuals who were on HIV PrEP and 174 individuals who were diagnosed HIV-positive. As per the requirements behind the study, every participant has to be born a male and should have at least contracted an STD over the course of the previous year.
As reported during the International AIDS Conference, the provisional findings showed such a positive result that it negated the need to continue with clinical trials.
Limitations of Doxy PEP
While it is true that such findings pave the way for a medical breakthrough, there are still a couple of fundamental limitations when it comes to Doxy PEP preventing STDs. For one, a clinical trial was conducted by researchers at the University of Washington. However, instead of biologically born male participants, they tested the efficacy of Doxy PEP among biologically born females.
The clinical trial involved 449 female volunteers who were on daily HIV PrEP. Over the course of the trial, there were 59 new cases of STIs among individuals in the control group and 50 new cases among individuals being administered Doxy PEP. Most of the new cases of STIs involved chlamydia. The researchers found that there were no significant differences between the two group that indicates the efficacy of Doxy PEP.
While physiological and biological differences between men and women could play a part in the ineffectiveness of Doxy PEP, antibiotic resistive properties of STDs could also be an important factor as a new strain of gonorrhoea is found to be resistant towards antibiotic treatment, limiting the effectiveness of Doxy PEP.
Further research has to be conducted to find out the root cause behind the effectiveness of Doxy PEP for biological men and not biological women.
Conclusion
Doxy PEP is readily available and inexpensive, making it the “ideal” STD prevention medication. It has, in the past, been used to prevent diseases such as malaria. Now that it has been found to function as a post-exposure prophylaxis, there have to be further studies into the matter before it can be advertised as a general STD preventive medication.
In fact, concerns, such as routine administration of Doxy PEP, could lead to various bacteria developing antibodies against it, leading to a drop in effectiveness in the long run.
The fact that new preventive methods are constantly discovered and readily available does not mean that the practice of safe sex ends. In fact, barrier contraception, such as condoms, is still considered the most effective contraceptive and STD preventive tool. You also do not have to worry about any medicative complications and side effects since they are not medical products.
In addition, new preventive treatment, such as Doxy PEP, are only found to be effective in preventing bacterial STDs. Hence, viral STDs, such as genital herpes, hepatitis, and HIV, still pose significant risks that can be avoided by the practice of safe sex.
That is why regular STD tests are imperative, besides practising safe sex regularly. Elyon Clinic is an STD clinic providing services, such as HIV screening and testing, STD testing and treatment, on top of general men’s and women’s health as well as GP services. For more information, you may find them at our website.
