US well being officers advise utilizing antibiotic as a ‘morning-after tablet’ in opposition to STDs

NEW YORK (AP) — Some individuals ought to think about taking an antibiotic as a morning-after tablet to attempt to stop sure sexually transmitted ailments, U.S. well being officers advisable Tuesday.

The Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention finalized its endorsement of taking doxycycline after unprotected intercourse as a solution to stop chlamydia, gonorrhea or syphilis infections.

CDC officers known as it the primary new prevention device in opposition to sexually transmitted infections in a long time, and stated innovation is badly wanted. Charges of syphilis, chlamydia and gonorrhea have been rising for years, most notably in homosexual and bisexual males, though the newest data recommended chlamydia and gonorrhea circumstances stopped rising in 2022.

The brand new guideline is particular to homosexual and bisexual males and transgender ladies who had an STD within the earlier yr and are at excessive danger of getting contaminated once more. Research have demonstrated doxycycline works in that group, however there’s not adequate proof to make the identical advice for different individuals, company officers stated.

Officers name the remedy doxy PEP, quick for doxycycline postexposure prophylaxis. Docs can write a prescription for one dose of 200 milligrams of doxycycline to be taken inside three days of unprotected intercourse, the CDC stated.

In October, the CDC released a draft model of the rules. The proposed language was modified considerably after a public remark interval. Modifications embrace clarifying language that the drugs ought to be taken solely as soon as per 24 hours, and that medical doctors ought to reassess the routine with sufferers each three to 6 months.

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The Related Press Well being and Science Division receives assist from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Academic Media Group. The AP is solely accountable for all content material.