So, you heard about Doxy-PEP, got a prescription from your doctor and picked it up from the chemist. Now you’re staring at the box, wondering, When do I take Doxy-PEP?
Doxy-PEP is a new way to help prevent syphilis and chlamydia among gay and bi+ men in Australia. If this is the first you’re hearing of Doxy-PEP, take a look at our basic guide here.
This article is for gay and bi+ guys who have their Doxy-PEP prescription but are not sure when the best time or situations to take it are. We will take you through how to use it safely and provide some sexy situations in which you might choose to use Doxy-PEP or not.
How to take Doxy-PEP
The correct doxy-PEP dosage involves taking a single dose of 200 mg doxycycline within 3 days after sexual activity.
It’s best to avoid taking more than one full dose (200 mg) every three days.
Some examples for dosing your doxy-PEP:
- If you have sex every day, only take doxy-PEP once every 3 days; this will cover all the sex you’re having.
- If you take doxy-PEP, then have unplanned sex the next day, take a second dose of doxy-PEP 3 days after your initial 200mg dose.
Some gay and bi+ guys with increased risk of getting syphilis and chlamydia may choose to take Doxy-PEP. There are a few factors that can increase your risk:
The type of sex you are having
Syphilis and chlamydia can spread through oral sex, anal sex, arse play, vaginal or front hole sex, fingering or fisting. Doxy-PEP may reduce your risk if you have these kinds of sex and don’t use condoms. While condoms help prevent most STIs, it’s still possible for syphilis to spread even when you’re using barrier protection — this is because a condom might not always fully cover affected areas of skin. And if you’re not using condoms or dams for oral sex or rimming, you could be exposed to syphilis this way.
The number of partners
The more partners you have, the greater your chance of being exposed to an STI.
The impact of syphilis on your partners
If you have sex with women or people with a uterus, doxy-PEP can help protect you and your partners. Syphilis can have worse health outcomes for these partners.
You might prefer to manage your health in other ways than taking Doxy-PEP, such as regular testing and relying on partners letting you know if they get syphilis or chlamydia.
Situations: Is Doxy-PEP right for my situation?
Here are some examples to help you think about managing your health with or without doxy-PEP.
- I have oral sex, but never anal sex. YES (you can get syphilis from giving or getting oral sex).
- I only have sex every few months at group events. YES (doxy-PEP can help during short periods of increased risk).
- I have anal and oral sex most days with different people. YES (but don’t take it more than once every 3 days).
- I am a bi+ man who has sex with partners of different genders. YES (syphilis can cause more serious health problems for women or people with a uterus; taking doxy-PEP can help protect you and them).
- I only get handjobs but never have oral or anal sex. Maybe not (the risk of getting syphilis from a handjob is low, so doxy-PEP might not be necessary).
- I have sex but only with people I keep in contact with. Maybe not (you might prefer to manage STIs through testing and letting your partners know).
- I have anonymous sex with people at beats and group events. YES (Doxy-PEP can be helpful if you’re having sex with people who you don’t or won’t be able to get contact details from).
Using doxy-PEP is just one way of helping prevent STIs. Using condoms, lube and having regular sexual health tests are other ways you can help prevent, test for and treat STIs.
Doxy-PEP does not prevent HIV, so make sure you still use an HIV prevention method. The good news is that they’re all compatible with doxy-PEP!
If you have a question about doxy-PEP, you can reach out to us on Facebook, Instagram or our contact form.