Both Doxycycline PEP (DoxyPEP) and PrEP are preventive medicines used in sexual health — but they protect against different infections and are used in different ways.

Here’s how they compare, how they can complement each other, and what you should know before using them.

What Is DoxyPEP?

DoxyPEP stands for Doxycycline Post-Exposure Prophylaxis. It’s an antibiotic strategy designed to reduce the risk of bacterial STIs such as:

· Chlamydia

· Syphilis

· (Partially effective) Gonorrhoea

People take doxycycline within 24–72 hours after unprotected sex to prevent infection from taking hold. This approach is supported in specific high-risk populations under BASHH guidance.

DoxyPEP prevents bacterial infections, not HIV.

What Is PrEP?

PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis) is a daily or event-based tablet that prevents HIV infection. It contains antiretroviral medicines (tenofovir and emtricitabine) that block the virus from replicating if exposure occurs.

PrEP prevents HIV, not bacterial STIs.