CDC Suggests Antibiotics To Prevent STIs and STDs: MedWatch Digest

The Centre for Disease Control in a new move has directed doctors to prescribe antibiotics to prevent Sexually Transmitted Infections(STI). Though the officials didn’t elaborate on the decision further, Doxycycline seems to be the wonder drug that could be the answer to preventing STIs. Also known as Doxycycline Post-exposure Prophylaxis, it suggests eating one tablet if you suspect the exposure. The health workers are yet to comment on it.

STIs are one of the fastest-spreading communicable diseases. As per the estimates, the WHO believes that 1 million people are affected by the disease every day. Not only that, many medicines don’t work against STIs which makes the situation worse. STIs or STDs could be simply defined as a cluster of diseases that is transferred from one person to another through sexual contact. This includes your mouth and anus apart from the sexual organs as well.  Researchers also believe that getting your body pierced with infected needles can lead to the disease. What adds to its severity is the fact that most people hardly know they are the carriers and therefore end up being mass spreaders. So what are the diseases that would come under it?

There are multiple diseases that come under the umbrella. Chylamadia, herpes, Warts, Gonorrhea, AIDS, HPV, Crabs, Syphillis, Trick, and Vaginitis can be deemed as STIs. According to statistics, 80% of people having intercourse in the U.S. could be affected by Human Papilloma Virus. Caused by Viruses, bacteria, and parasites they could even be passed on from a mother to a baby. 

Basically, apart from itching, reddening or bumps, unfamiliar discharge, bleeding when not menstruating, and experiencing pain when having sex. Additionally, some people also feel a bad odor and tingling pain while urinating. It can also manifest as significant weight loss, dysentery, fever, pains, and jaundice. It could be all of these or any of these depending on the severity of the diseases.  

Most people are under the false impression that STIs are not fatal. However, a study published in the National Library of Medicine by Michael Ray Garcia explains, “Untreated STIs can lead to severe, lifelong health disorders, including infertility, scarring, chronic pain, sexual dysfunction, HIV, and cancer.” 

The diagnostic tools available to check STIs can be only put into use by checking your blood, fluid, or urine. In some cases, they also need to have a physical exam. When it comes to treatability, usually antivirals or antibiotics should do the trick. Moroever, the treatment schedule could also vary depending on the kind of disease one is dealing with. The recovery period is also flexible ranging from a few days to months. 

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Prevention could be opting for condoms, going with safe partners, getting tested often, and looking for symptoms. So where does the Doxy-PEP come fit in? It is not always ideal for everyone to reveal that they had intercourse even if it’s consensual. Having multiple partners or revealing it to even doctors could be embarrassing after a point. The case especially stands for women or teenagers who would not be so free with their sexuality and are afraid of judgment.

However, researchers are expressing their concern about the new way. In a study conducted by the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) and the University of Washington, Seattle, they discovered, “that the doxy-PEP group had a two-thirds lower incidence of syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia compared to the standard-care group during each three-month time period.” They also thought, “that preventive use of antibiotics could lead to antibiotic resistance. 

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