July 13th 2024.
Last year, my colleague Ben told me about a groundbreaking new drug called DoxyPEP, which can help prevent bacterial sexually transmitted infections. As a Black and gay man, I am particularly interested in this drug as both of these communities are disproportionately affected by STIs. Ben, who also works at The Love Tank, a not-for-profit organization promoting health and wellbeing for under-served communities, gave a presentation on the drug and its potential impact on our work.
At first, I was just as excited about DoxyPEP as I was when I first learned about Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), a life-saving HIV prevention drug. I wanted to spread the word about this new tool that could help protect against STIs.
DoxyPEP is a combination of doxycycline, an antibiotic, and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), which means treatment given to prevent disease. It has shown promising results in clinical trials, with some studies suggesting it can protect against 70-89% of chlamydia infections and 73-87% of syphilis infections. It can also prevent over 51-57% of gonorrhoea infections and even lesser-known STIs like mycoplasma genitalium.
As excited as I am about DoxyPEP, I also understand that it is not a cure-all. It cannot prevent viruses like HIV or hepatitis B, or parasites like crabs or scabies. However, in a world where STI rates are on the rise, a drug like this could be a gamechanger.
Of course, as with any medication, there are concerns about potential side effects and the development of antimicrobial resistance. But I believe that the benefits outweigh the risks, and those who could benefit from DoxyPEP should not hesitate to use it for either peace of mind or to relieve the strain on sexual health services.
Last August, I decided to start taking DoxyPEP myself. As a single, gay man living in London, I take it after having sex. Since then, every time I have been tested for STIs, the results have come back negative. It feels incredible to have this level of control over my sexual health, especially since I have been taking PrEP and have not been at risk of HIV for several years.
I have had many conversations with friends about my experiences with DoxyPEP, and I am happy to say that some of them have also started taking it. I am passionate about spreading awareness about sexual health, and I even did a six-part podcast called The Other Blue Pill during Pride month, discussing the fight to make PrEP available in England and also touching upon DoxyPEP.
It is frustrating to see how history is repeating itself with the fight to make DoxyPEP available in the UK. Just like with PrEP, it is an uphill battle for campaigners like myself. While it is approved for use in some places, it has not yet been approved for use on the NHS. However, there are hopes that it will be commissioned for use and some NHS clinics are considering making it available soon.
I find it disheartening that we have the tools to better our sexual health, but we are not utilizing them. STI rates are highest among young people aged 15-24, Black people, and gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men. It is more important than ever to take care of our sexual health, and I am proud to be a part of this fight for better access to DoxyPEP.
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