US health officials are urging health care providers to consider prescribing a common antibiotic as a morning-after preventative measure to combat the rise of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
As rates of sexually transmitted diseases reach record highs, the CDC’s draft recommendations support the use of doxycycline, citing its proven effectiveness in reducing chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis infections. This marks a new approach in the fight against STI prevention, especially for high-risk populations.
The proposal is based on studies showing that gay and bisexual men who took doxycycline within three days of unprotected sex were significantly less likely to get chlamydia, syphilis or gonorrhea compared to those who did not take the drug after sex.
Minnesota pharmacist sued after refusing to give woman prescription for emergency contraception
More research needs to be done to determine its effectiveness in other groups, such as women and heterosexuals, according to Mermin, who oversees the CDC’s STD efforts. If approved, this approach would join other advances in STI prevention such as the HPV vaccine and HIV prevention pills.
Doxycycline, a cost-effective antibiotic that has been used for more than 40 years, is used to treat conditions such as acne, chlamydia, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever.
A study published in April in The New England Journal of Medicine highlighted the effectiveness of doxycycline, reducing the likelihood of a diagnosis of gonorrhea, chlamydia, or syphilis by two-thirds among men who have sex with men.
This strategy is called post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP).
The CDC proposal clarifies that post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), which involves giving medication after possible exposure to prevent infection, is a well-established strategy for preventing HIV and other infections.
After the study was published in April, the California Department of Public Health recommended preventive treatment for “all non-pregnant individuals,” noting that it can be effectively taken “within 72 hours of unprotected oral, anal, or vaginal sex.”
Additionally, Fenway Health, a Boston-based facility that serves many LGBTQ+ clients, has seen approximately 1,000 patients currently using doxycycline in this way, according to Dr. Taimur Khan, the organization’s associate director of medical research.
Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education