New York, October 3: US health authorities have proposed that doctors prescribe a common antibiotic as a pill taken after sex to prevent the spread of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) such as chlamydia, gonorrhoea, and syphilis. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has developed draft guidelines recommending the use of doxycycline as a post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) to reduce the risk of developing these infections. The proposed guideline targets high-risk groups such as gay and bisexual men and transgender women who engage in condomless sex. US: California Becomes First State to Mandate Gender-Neutral Bathrooms in Schools by 2026 to Facilitate LGBTQ+ Students.

According to the reports, the CDC recommended taking a single 200 mg pill orally within 72 hours after having sex. The reported cases of these three bacterial infections have risen to 2.5 million in the United States in 2021, following about a decade of growth. The sudden and worrisome rise in the numbers has prompted authorities to propose the use of antibiotics. Hamish Ogston Sex Scandal: British Millionaire Accused of Trafficking Thai and Filipina Women Into UK for Sex; Denies Allegations as Probe Begins.

The rise in the number of reported cases of chlamydia, gonorrhoea, and syphilis in the United States is attributed to several factors. One of them is the advent of PrEP, a daily pill that significantly reduces the chances of contracting HIV, which has led to fewer people using condoms. Another potential driver of the infections is that people who are on PrEP are recommended to undergo health screenings every three months, which likely increases the identification of infections. Additionally, the greater the number of people infected, the more they can further infect, a basic epidemiological fact.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 03, 2023 09:14 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).