Rising STI Rates Call for Affordable Solutions and Antibiotic Alternatives.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is considering recommending the use of doxycycline, a cheap antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections and prevent malaria, as a morning-after pill to prevent sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). A recent study found that taking a 200-milligram pill of doxycycline within three days of unprotected sex reduced bacterial STIs, specifically gonorrhea, chlamydia, and syphilis, by two-thirds every three months. However, the drug has limitations, such as being ineffective in heterosexual women and causing side effects such as stomach problems, sun sensitivity, and rashes. The CDC hopes that doxycycline will be another tool in combatting the STD epidemic.