Information to Healthcare Providers on Doxy-PEP

There is a new opportunity for prevention of sexual transmitted infections (STIs) for Alameda County residents called doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis, or doxy-PEP.   This letter provides provisional guidance to healthcare providers on this strategy. As new information becomes available this guidance may be modified. Doxy-PEP is doxycycline 200 mg taken within 72 hours of sex (preferably within 24 hours of sex).

• Healthcare providers should counsel gay men and other men who have sex with men, and transgender people regarding doxy-PEP as a part of comprehensive sexual health counseling.
• Gay men and other men who have sex with men and transgender people who have had a recent STI and who are not taking HIV PrEP should be counseled about HIV PrEP and new long-acting formulations (cabotegravir).
• Adult gay men and other men who have sex with men, and transgender women who are interested in doxy-PEP and who have had a recent STI (chlamydia, gonorrhea or syphilis in the last year), or who are taking HIV PrEP, or who have had more than 1 oral or anal condomless sex partner in the last year, or who are people living with HIV, should be offered doxy-PEP.
• Doxycycline can be taken as often as every day, depending on frequency of sexual activity, but individuals should not take more than 200 mg within a 24-hour period.

For any questions, please reach to Alameda County Public Health, SexualHealth@acgov.org or 510-267-3220