Is DoxyPEP Effective for Cis-Gendered Women?

A very important question

If you’ve heard of DoxyPEP, you might be aware that it’s often deemed inappropriate for cis-gendered women. But is this assertion truly accurate? Let’s dissect the single clinical trial that led to this conclusion.

What is DoxyPEP?

DoxyPEP is an innovative use of an old drug—doxycycline. When people take 200 mg of doxycycline within 24 hours of unprotected sex (including oral sex), it significantly reduces the likelihood of contracting bacterial STIs like chlamydia and syphilis. While some trials have shown its efficacy against gonorrhea, results have been inconsistent. However, all trials have demonstrated a substantial decrease in the likelihood of contracting syphilis and chlamydia.

Does DoxyPEP Work for Women?

The effectiveness of DoxyPEP for cis-gendered women remains uncertain due to limited data. While multiple trials have assessed its impact on men, only one trial has included women. This trial did indicate a decrease in all three bacterial STIs but did not meet the statistical threshold required to be deemed conclusive.

The Trial Details

The trial involving women took place in Kenya, with participants including those engaged in “transactional sex” (37%) and others with multiple partners or primary partners with other sexual partners. 

Hair Samples

The researchers aimed to assess adherence to the protocol, i.e., whether these women actually took doxycycline as they reported. According to the study authors, “Objective assessment of hair samples for doxycycline use suggested that doxycycline was not taken during the majority of months, which is discordant with participant-reported use.” This discrepancy raises questions about the study’s reliability.

Conclusion

The single trial involving 495 women, many of whom were not honest about their adherence to the protocol, cannot be considered definitive proof that DoxyPEP is ineffective for women. The trial’s likely flaws, based on hair sample analysis, suggest that further research is needed.

Doxycycline is present in high enough concentrations in vaginal tissues to inhibit the growth of all three bacterial STIs. DoxyPEP should work in women, but it’s not been proven in this single clinical trial.  

What’s Next?

It remains unclear whether additional clinical trials will be conducted to evaluate DoxyPEP’s effectiveness in women. However, the initial trial’s shortcomings underscore the need for more rigorous studies.

At Shameless Care, DoxyPEP has quickly become our best-selling product, and for good reason. We STI test individuals across the nation and can confirm that gonorrhea, chlamydia, and syphilis are prevalent—especially oral infections, of which most people are unaware.