San Francisco Reports Halving of Chlamydia and Syphilis Cases After Doxy-PEP Rollout

A novel antibiotic regimen post-sex significantly reduces STI rates among high-risk groups, marking a promising public health breakthrough.

San Francisco health officials report a 50% reduction in chlamydia and early syphilis cases among men who have sex with men and transgender women following the introduction of doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis (doxy-PEP).
The first-in-the-nation guidelines for doxy-PEP, involving taking antibiotics after sexual encounters, show significant impact on reducing STI rates.
Over 3,500 individuals in San Francisco have been prescribed doxy-PEP since its introduction in October 2022, with no observed decline in gonorrhea cases.
Health experts emphasize the need for further research on doxy-PEP's effectiveness in cisgender women, as the majority of STIs in the U.S. occur in this group.
The CDC is expected to issue final recommendations on doxy-PEP in the coming months, following promising results from San Francisco's initiative.