Skip to main content

Doxycycline Postexposure Prophylaxis Does Not Avert STIs in Women

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on Dec 21, 2023.

By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter

THURSDAY, Dec. 21, 2023 -- For Kenyan women receiving preexposure prophylaxis against HIV, the incidence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) does not differ for those receiving doxycycline postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) compared with standard care, according to a study published in the Dec. 21 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

Jenell Stewart, D.O., M.P.H., from the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, and colleagues conducted a randomized, open-label trial comparing doxycycline PEP (doxycycline hyclate, 200 mg, taken within 72 hours after condomless sex) and standard care among Kenyan women aged 18 to 30 years and receiving preexposure prophylaxis against HIV; 224 and 225 individuals were randomly assigned to doxycycline PEP and standard care, respectively.

The researchers found that 109 incident sexually transmitted infections (STIs) occurred (25.1 and 29.0 per 100 person-years in the doxycycline PEP and standard-care groups, respectively), with no significant between-group difference in incidence. Chlamydia accounted for 78.0 percent of the STIs. No serious adverse events were considered to be related to doxycycline, and no incident HIV infections were identified. Doxycycline was detected in 29.0 percent of hair samples from 50 randomly selected participants in the doxycycline PEP group.

"Our findings emphasize the need for preventive options for STIs that are effective and acceptable among women," the authors write.

Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)

Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)

Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

© 2024 HealthDay. All rights reserved.

Posted December 2023

Read this next

Mailed HIV Self-Tests Can Improve Access to Testing in Priority Audiences

THURSDAY, June 20, 2024 -- Mailed HIV-self tests (HIVSTs) can increase testing among persons who have never received testing for HIV or have not received testing in the past year...

Only Half of Adults Believe They Should Disclose Sexually Transmitted Infection Status

FRIDAY, June 7, 2024 -- Only half of individuals disclose or believe they should disclose having a sexually transmitted infection (STI) prior to sexual intercourse, according to a...

CDC Recommends Doxycycline PEP for Gay Men, Transgender Women

WEDNESDAY, June 5, 2024 -- In clinical guidelines issued by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and published June 4 in the agency's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly...

More news resources

Subscribe to our newsletter

Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.