This page is general health information, not medical advice. It cannot tell you whether you have an infection. A clinician can, and the testing options on this site are a good place to start.

Doxy-PEP is a way to lower the chance of certain bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STIs) after sex. The name stands for doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis. People also write it as doxypep or doxy pep.

It is a prescription medicine, so the starting point is a conversation with a clinician. This guide explains the science in plain language, who the CDC says it is for, and what Atlanta residents can do next.

It is written for every gender and orientation. It cannot tell you whether you personally are a good fit. A clinician can.

What doxy-PEP is

Doxy-PEP means a clinician prescribes the antibiotic doxycycline for you to use after sex, to lower the chance of an STI. It is different from treatment. Treatment is for an infection that is already there. Doxy-PEP is used after a possible exposure, as a preventive step.

The CDC published its doxy-PEP recommendations in 2024, as an update to its 2021 STI Treatment Guidelines. That update is the main source for this page.

The science: what doxycycline is and how it works

Chemical class and key compound

Doxycycline belongs to the tetracycline class of antibiotics. It is a semi-synthetic compound, which means it is made in a lab from a naturally occurring tetracycline. It has been used in medicine for decades. Clinicians prescribe it for a range of bacterial infections.

The CDC STI Treatment Guidelines already list doxycycline as a treatment that clinicians prescribe for chlamydia and, as part of some regimens, syphilis. Using it for prevention is the newer idea.

How it acts on bacteria

Tetracycline-class antibiotics work by interfering with how bacteria make proteins. Bacteria need those proteins to grow and multiply. When protein production is blocked, the bacteria cannot keep growing, and the immune system can clear them.

That is the general mechanism. It is why doxycycline can work against some bacteria and not against viruses such as HIV, herpes or HPV. Antibiotics do not act on viruses.

Why timing matters

The idea behind doxy-PEP is that a bacterium that has just entered the body may be stopped before it establishes an infection. That is why timing matters. The CDC guidance says doxy-PEP should be taken as soon as possible after condomless sex, and within 72 hours. After that window, the CDC does not have evidence that it works.

Your clinician will give you the exact instructions that fit you. This page does not list doses or schedules.

What the research suggests

The CDC's 2024 guidance draws on randomized trials. In those studies, people who were offered doxy-PEP had substantially fewer bacterial STIs than people who were not. Research suggests the effect was strongest for syphilis and chlamydia. It appeared smaller for gonorrhea.

One likely reason is resistance. Some gonorrhea bacteria already resist tetracycline-class antibiotics, so the medicine may work less well against them. The CDC guidance describes the gonorrhea benefit as more limited for this reason.

These findings are observations from specific study groups. They do not promise a result for any one person. No prevention method is perfect, and the CDC does not describe doxy-PEP as a replacement for other tools.

Who the CDC recommends it for

In its 2024 guidance, the CDC recommends that clinicians discuss and offer doxy-PEP to a specific group. That group is gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, and transgender women, who have had at least one bacterial STI in the past 12 months. The bacterial STIs counted are syphilis, chlamydia and gonorrhea.

The CDC guidance also encourages shared decision-making. That means you and a clinician talk through the benefits, side effects and your own situation together.

What about everyone else?

The trials behind the recommendation mostly enrolled men who have sex with men and transgender women. The CDC says the evidence is not strong enough to make a general recommendation for other groups, including cisgender women and heterosexual men. That is a statement about the evidence, not a statement about any person's worth or worry.

If you are outside the CDC's named group and curious, you can still ask a clinician. They can explain what is known and what is not.

What doxy-PEP does and does not prevent

What the research points to

Syphilis
Chlamydia
Gonorrhea, with a smaller effect because of tetracycline resistance

What it does not prevent

HIV. Doxycycline is an antibiotic, and HIV is a virus.
Herpes and HPV, which are also viral.
Mpox, which is viral.
Pregnancy.

Other prevention tools exist for some of these. HIV can be prevented with PrEP, a prescription medicine that clinicians offer. Condoms lower the chance of many STIs. Vaccines exist for HPV and hepatitis B. A clinician can walk through the full list with you.

Safety profile and contraindications

Doxycycline has a long safety record, but it is still a medicine with side effects. The CDC and other public health sources describe a few common ones:

Upset stomach or nausea
Sensitivity to sunlight, which can make sunburn easier
Irritation of the esophagus, the tube from the mouth to the stomach

Tetracycline-class antibiotics are generally avoided during pregnancy. If you are pregnant, could become pregnant or are breastfeeding, tell the clinician before starting. Also tell them about any allergies, other medicines and supplements, and any liver or kidney conditions. Some products can change how doxycycline is absorbed, and a clinician or pharmacist can explain which.

If you have a reaction after starting, contact the prescriber. In an emergency, call 911.

Resistance and why follow-up testing matters

The main public health worry about doxy-PEP is antibiotic resistance. If many people use an antibiotic often, bacteria may adapt. The CDC's 2024 guidance names concern about resistance in gonorrhea and in other bacteria, such as Staphylococcus aureus.

For that reason, the CDC recommends regular STI screening for people who use doxy-PEP, at least every 3 months. Testing also helps catch infections that doxy-PEP does not prevent. A clinician will decide which tests fit your situation.

For more on testing in the city, see our guide to STD testing in Atlanta, where to get tested and what it costs.

Why this conversation matters in Atlanta

The Georgia Department of Public Health's OASIS data tool reports 2023 rates for Fulton County. For chlamydia, the rate was 978.7 per 100,000 people. For gonorrhea, it was 569.4 per 100,000. For comparison, the CDC's 2023 state tables put the Georgia rates at 646.4 per 100,000 for chlamydia and 274.8 per 100,000 for gonorrhea.

For primary and secondary syphilis, OASIS gives 39.2 per 100,000 in Fulton County in 2023. The CDC's state table gives 20.0 per 100,000 for Georgia overall.

These numbers describe a community, not any individual. They show why many Atlanta residents ask clinicians about prevention options and regular testing.

How to get doxy-PEP in Atlanta

Doxy-PEP requires a prescription. The CDC's guidance is written for clinicians, so the path runs through a medical visit. You cannot get it by simply asking at a pharmacy counter. We do not recommend any website, product or kit.

Fulton County Board of Health, 10 Park Place

The Fulton County Board of Health locations page lists sexual health services at 10 Park Place Health Center that include STI screening and treatment, PrEP and DoxyPep. It is the one Atlanta clinic where I found DoxyPEP named on its public list.

Address: 10 Park Place S.E., 5th floor, Atlanta, GA 30303
Phone: (770) 520-7500
Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. The last walk-in appointment is at 3:00 p.m.
Cost: the Board of Health's Sexual Health page says that if you do not have insurance, fees can be charged on a sliding scale.

The Board of Health says its sexual health clinics serve Fulton County residents, ages 14 and up. Call first if you are not sure you qualify. The page does not list a price for doxy-PEP itself, so ask when you call.

Other Fulton County health centers

The Board of Health locations page lists STI screening and treatment and PrEP at Adamsville Regional Health Center, 3700 MLK Jr. Drive S.W., phone (770) 520-7323. It also lists them at Neighborhood Union Health Center, 186 Sunset Avenue N.W., phone (770) 520-7351. The page does not list DoxyPEP at either one, so ask whether it is offered. The Board of Health's Sexual Health page and its Neighborhood Union hours do not fully agree, so confirm by phone before you go.

AID Atlanta Wellness Center

AID Atlanta, at 1438 W Peachtree Street NW, offers free HIV tests and free screening for chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis, with free treatment for reactive screening results, according to its testing page. Testing runs Monday to Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Walk-ins are welcome. The STI testing line is (404) 870-7741.

AID Atlanta's testing page does not mention doxy-PEP. Ask when you call. Its PrEP coordinator can be reached at (404) 870-7721, and the program asks for check-ins at least every 3 months with HIV and STD testing.

Planned Parenthood East Atlanta Health Center

The health center at 440 Moreland Avenue SE lists STD testing and treatment, HIV testing and PrEP. Its page does not list doxy-PEP. Walk-ins are welcome, though the page notes that only appointments guarantee service. Phone: 404-688-9300. Hours change, so confirm them first.

Your own doctor

Any licensed clinician can decide whether to prescribe doxy-PEP, including a primary care doctor. Bring up your sexual health history openly. Clinicians are trained to talk about this without judgment.

Questions to ask at your visit

Does the CDC's 2024 guidance apply to my situation?
Which tests should I have before starting, and how often afterward?
What side effects should I watch for with my other medicines?
Does this clinic offer PrEP or other prevention tools?
What will this cost, and is a sliding scale available?

A note on quality and safe sourcing

For a prescription medicine, quality comes from the process. A licensed clinician writes the prescription after talking with you. A licensed pharmacy fills it. Medicines sold outside that chain may not be what the label says, so it is safer to avoid them.

Start with a test

Many people start with testing, because it gives a clinician more information to work with. Georgia's free and low-cost options are listed above. You can also use the CDC's locator at gettested.cdc.gov to find sites by zip code. The Georgia AIDS & STI InfoLine, run through the state health department's HIV prevention program, is 1-800-551-2728.

You do not need a reason beyond wanting to know. A test can tell you about infections that are currently detectable, and a clinician can explain what the result means for you.

Doxy-PEP in Atlanta: Who It Is For and How to Get It