What is Doxy PEP?

Doxy PEP, or doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis, is a strategy for preventing bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STIs) like chlamydia, syphilis, and gonorrhea AFTER unprotected sexual encounters. Doxy PEP involves taking a single 200 mg dose of the antibiotic doxycycline within 72 hours (ideally within 24 hours) of condomless sex. Based on clinical studies, Doxy PEP can be used by gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men or transgender women to reduce the risk of bacterial STIs (chlamydia, syphilis and gonorrhea) by around 60-70%.

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What is HIV?

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a virus that attacks the body's immune system, specifically targeting CD4 cells, which are crucial for fighting off infections and diseases. If left untreated, HIV can progress to Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), a condition where the immune system is severely damaged, leading to life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers, and if untreated, eventually death. Fortunately, modern antiretroviral therapy (ART) allows people with HIV to live long and healthy lives by suppressing the virus to undetectable levels, making it untransmittable (U=U: Undetectable = Untransmittable). Prevention strategies include consistent condom use, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), regular testing, and avoiding sharing needles. Talk to one of our pharmacists about HIV screening prevention options to protect yourself and your partners and taking control of your sexual health.​

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What is Chlamydia?

​Chlamydia is one of the most common bacterial STIs caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis, and it often presents with no symptoms. If symptoms do present they may include penile or vaginal discharge, burning or painful urination, tenderness or pain in the testicles and lower abdominal or pelvic pain in females.

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What is Syphilis?

Syphilis is a bacterial STI caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum. Early symptoms of syphilis may include painless chancres (sores) followed by rash, fever and swollen lymph nodes. If left untreated syphilis may progress and lead severe complications such as damage to the heart, brain, nerves, and eyes. Syphilis is spread primarily through vaginal, anal, or oral sex with infectious sores.​

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What is Gonorrhea?

Gonorrhea is a common bacterial STI caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Symptoms of gonorrhea may include penile or vaginal discharge, burning or painful urination, tenderness or pain in the testicles, anal itching, rectal discharge, sore throat, swollen lymph nodes of the neck and lower abdominal or pelvic pain in females.

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What is MPOX and the MPOX vaccine Jynneos?

Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, is a viral infection caused by the mpox virus. Mpox can be spread via direct skin to skin contact with infectious sores but also through bodily fluids, respiratory droplets in prolonged close proximity or contaminated items like bedding that have touched bodily fluids of a person with mpox. Mpox is commonly spread through the close physical contact of sex. Symptoms start with flu-type symptoms (fever, headache, muscle aches and swollen lymph nodes) followed by a rash with lesions that may occur on any part of the body. In severe cases a person infected may need to be hospitalized and may result in death. A person with mpox is contagious until all lesions have scabbed over and the scabs have fallen off and a new layer of skin has appeared over the area which takes around 2-4 weeks. There are two types of mpox virus, Clade 1 and Clade 2. Clade 2 is the variant for the current global outbreak that peaked in 2022. Clade 1 is endemic is central African countries, but cases have been popping up across the globe with fears of a new epidemic. 

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Jynneos is the vaccine for mpox. The vaccine is given in 2 doses 28 days apart. If you believe you have been exposed to mpox, you should get the vaccine as soon as possible which may prevent an infection. The vaccine is approximately 60-90% effective and if you do acquire mpox then your case will not be as severe. People living with HIV are more susceptible  to mpox and severe complications and the vaccine may not be as effective.