STIs Are Rising. Protect Yourself with Doxy-Pep.
In 2022, the US reported about 2.5 million cases of syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia.
Real Talk. Real Quick. Across the U.S., rates of syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia are rising at rates faster than we’ve seen in a long time. Because of this, the need for easy and affordable access to STI prevention options is greater than ever.
But don’t worry! Getting people the fast and free* HIV and STI prevention they need is kind of our thing!
*Most patients pay $0 for labs, visits, and prescriptions. Q Care Plus prescribes doxy-PEP for STI with PrEP for HIV.
Doxy-PEP Prevents Common STIs
Q Care Plus knows how important HIV and STI prevention options are for everyone. That’s why we created this doxy-PEP 101 guide for a piece of quick and easy-to-follow information about this STI prevention strategy. Keep reading to learn more about doxy-PEP and how you can get it with your initial PrEP prescription or quarterly PrEP refill at little-to-no cost (it’s no cost 99% of the time!) with Q Care Plus. Let’s dive in!
Quick Facts About STIs
Chances are you already know what STIs are – they are also referred to as STDs (sexually transmitted diseases). In case you didn’t already know, STI stands for a sexually transmitted infection. An STI can be any infection that’s spread by sexual contact. There are many STIs out there, but for the sake of this 101, we’re focusing on the Big 3 that doxy-PEP helps prevent: chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis.
STI vs STD
According to the CDC, “a sexually transmitted infection (STI) is a virus, bacteria, fungus, or parasite people can get through sexual contact. A sexually transmitted disease (STD) develops because of an STI, and the term implies that the infection has led to some symptom of disease.”
People occasionally use both these phrases to mean the same things. The basic purpose of public health and healthcare is to prevent and treat infections before they lead to disease. As a result, many, including the CDC, are using the term STI more often. However, STD is still used to refer to data or information from sources that use the word.
Chlamydia
Chlamydia is a common STI that can present with genital, oral, and rectal symptoms or no symptoms at all. Chlamydia can cause genital or rectal discharge, painful urination and bowel movements, and swelling in the groin. If left untreated, it can lead to serious reproductive health problems like infertility and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). The good news? Chlamydia is treatable with antibiotics. Because people may not experience symptoms, having regular STI screenings is crucial.
- Chlamydia cases in the US increased only a little but remained high. Over 1.6 million cases of chlamydia were reported in 2022.
Gonorrhea
Gonorrhea is a bacterial infection that can affect the genitals, rectum, or throat. Common symptoms include burning during urination, sore throat, and rectal or genital discharge. Men may also experience testicular pain. Women may experience abdominal pain and unusual vaginal bleeding. Untreated gonorrhea can lead to severe health issues like infertility and an increased risk of HIV infection. It can also spread and infect the joints or organs.
Good news again! Gonorrhea is also treatable with antibiotics. Testing for gonorrhea and getting an early diagnosis can prevent long-term health issues and future infections.
- While gonorrhea cases decreased from 2021 to 2022, the trend over the past five years shows an 11.1% increase.
- Increasing resistance to antibiotics is making gonorrhea treatment more challenging.
Syphilis
Syphilis is a common STI that can cause rashes, genital sores, fatigue, and joint pain. In rare cases, it can cause vision changes, memory trouble, and loss of balance. Syphilis can remain in the body for years if it is not detected. Luckily, it is easily treatable with antibiotics.
- Syphilis cases rose by 10% in 2022 and have increased by 68% since 2018.
- Over the last two decades, syphilis cases have surged by 447%. For more detailed STI information, please visit the following resources.
Doxy-PEP 101
Alright, now that we got that out of the way, let’s get into the details about doxy-PEP. Here’s our quick, easy-to-follow information about doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis, AKA doxy-PEP or STI-PEP.
What is doxy-PEP?
Doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis (doxy-PEP) is an antibiotic that helps prevent STIs. Specifically, it prevents chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis when taken within 24 to 72 hours of having sex. This includes any type of sex: oral sex, genital sex, or anal sex. Doxy-PEP is not currently recommended for people assigned female at birth who have vaginal sex.
The sooner you start doxy-PEP, the more likely it is to be effective!
Is doxy-PEP a new medication?
Doxy-PEP, while considered a new preventative STI treatment, isn’t a new medication. The doxycycline used to prevent STIs has been widely used for years to treat infections like syphilis, chlamydia, and even acne. It is also used to prevent infections like Lyme disease or malaria. Many people even take doxycycline to prevent malaria when traveling.
Take 200mg of doxycycline (usually two 100mg pills), within 24-72 hours of possible exposure to STIs.
How does doxy-PEP work?
When taken as soon as possible, and ideally within 24 hours of exposure, doxy-PEP can stop chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis infections from spreading in your body. It blocks these STIs from making essential proteins needed to copy themselves. In other words, doxy-PEP stops the infection from taking hold.
PRO TIP: Doxy-PEP is even more effective when used with other STI prevention tools, like condoms and PrEP.
How well does doxy-PEP work?
When taken as prescribed, doxy-PEP lowers the chance of chlamydia and syphilis infections by 80%! Doxy-PEP lowers the chance of gonorrhea infections by over 50%!
Who is doxy-PEP for?
Doxy-PEP is recommended for gay and bisexual men who have sex with men (GBMSM) and transgender women who take HIV PrEP or are living with HIV. As we mentioned, doxy-PEP is not yet found to be effective for people who are assigned female at birth and are having vaginal sex as current research and clinical trials have focused on GBMSM and transgender women. Medical professionals need more research to determine its efficacy and safety for other populations.
As you would with any new medication, talk to your provider before starting doxy-PEP. Tell them about any drug interactions you know of and your medical history. Your care provider can help you decide if doxy-PEP is right for you. This information (although extremely helpful) is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
As the nation’s largest PrEP provider, our mission is to provide PrEP services to everyone who needs them. Our compassionate and personalized sexual health services extend far and wide to provide you with the high-quality sexual healthcare you need and deserve. As a patient of Q Care Plus, you will have 24/7 online access to over 50 expert providers who are deeply connected to (and part of!) the LGBTQIA+ community.
Check to see if Q Care Plus services are available in your state.
How do I take doxy-PEP?*
Two 100-milligram (200mg) pills of doxycycline are a dose of doxy-PEP. You take a doxy-PEP dose within 24 to 72 hours of sex. The sooner you start doxy-PEP, the more likely it is to be effective, ideally within 24 hours of potential exposure!
What to consider when taking doxy-PEP:
- Take doxy-PEP with 8 oz. of water
- Do not lie down for 30-60 minutes after taking it.
- Avoid eating dairy, or taking calcium, antacids, and multivitamins within 2 hours before and after taking doxy-PEP.
- Use sunscreen while taking doxy-PEP as it may make you more sensitive to the sun.
As you would with any new medication, talk to your provider before starting doxy-PEP. Tell them about any drug interactions you know of and your medical history. Your care provider can help you decide if doxy-PEP is right for you. This information (although extremely helpful) is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
Are there any side effects to doxy-PEP?
There can be some side effects people experience when taking doxy-PEP. Doxycycline can sometimes cause upset stomach, vomiting, or diarrhea. If taken often, doxycycline can also cause your skin to be more sensitive to sunburn. Because it’s an antibiotic, doxy-PEP could affect your healthy gut bacteria or microbiome. This is still being studied. For more questions about side effects, it is best to follow up with your healthcare provider! If ever in doubt, Q Care Plus’s dedicated team of expert providers specialize in sexual health and can answer questions you have about side effects.
Doxy-PEP for STIs vs PrEP for HIV
Many patients ask us about the differences between HIV PrEP (PrEP for HIV) and doxy-PEP (PEP for STIs) as they relate to exposure through sex. The key differences between doxy-PEP and PrEP have to do with when, how, and why you take them. You take doxy-PEP AFTER sex (only one dose each time, not daily) to prevent bacterial STIs. You take PrEP once a day as prescribed BEFORE you have sex to prevent HIV. PrEP is available as a pill you take once a day or an injection you get every 2 months. Only healthcare professionals can administer PrEP injections.
Want more information? Check out more resources on PrEP and doxy-PEP or download this handy PrEP, PEP, and doxy-PEP reference chart!
How can I get a doxy-PEP prescription?
If there’s a chance of getting HIV from sex, there is also a chance of getting STIs. Get protection for yourself from both HIV and STIs in one step. Double your protection with PrEP + doxy-PEP with Q Care Plus: Two prescriptions, but only one online visit.
IMPORTANT TO KNOW: Q Care Plus offers doxy-PEP to our PrEP patients at no cost in most states. Q Care Plus only offers doxy-PEP to people living with HIV who are enrolled in our Q Care Link HIV care program.
Ready to upgrade your sexual health care?
Expert Q Care Plus providers can meet with you online and discuss if PrEP, PEP, HIV care, and/or doxy-PEP are right for you. Sign up and schedule an appointment in less than five minutes for a fifteen-minute online consultation and get fast PrEP and doxy-PEP medication delivery.*
Do it today to be ready for tomorrow!
*Q Care Plus only prescribes and delivers doxy-PEP with an initial PrEP prescription or a regular quarterly PrEP refill.
Responsible Use of Doxy-PEP
Q Care Plus is committed to improving the sexual health and general wellness of LGBTQ+ community members. We recognize research is ongoing to evaluate the known benefit of doxy-PEP in HIV PrEP users and people living with HIV in reducing STI rates, weighed against the known and yet-unknown effect of this intervention on bacterial resistance and the microbiome. The Q Care Plus Doxy-PEP initiative involves careful prescribing, judicious refills, and consistent patient counseling. We are engaging with investigators to evaluate our initiative’s effectiveness in reducing incident STIs along with other implications.
