Tim has been using DoxyPEP for a while.

“I use Doxypep mainly when I've been to a sex party or club where I've had more than two or three sex partners. I used to have an STI about every six months, but in the three years I've been using DoxyPEP I've only had one STI - gonorrhea. I know DoxyPEP doesn't work well against that in the Netherlands.” Tim does not use DoxyPEP on an ongoing basis. “For example, I don't use it when I've had sex with one person - I don't think that's worth the risk. Unless it's someone who just came from a sex club and had sex with ten or more men there. ” 

"I don't use it when I've had sex with one person - I don't think that's worth the risk"

Tim uses DoxyPEP primarily because he doesn't want to get syphilis. “That's the most important thing to me. You can get pretty sick from syphilis, and if you're unlucky it can even cause permanent damage. Chlamydia is less serious and therefore not enough reason to take preventive antibiotics for it.” Tim read up quite a bit before using DoxyPEP. “From that, I concluded that DoxyPEP does not pose that many risks for me on an individual level. Doxycycline is also used to prevent malaria for people going to the tropics, or by people who have acne. In addition, I use DoxyPEP to prevent STIs not only in myself, but also in my subsequent sex partners. I realize that I have relatively many different sex partners, with DoxyPEP I protect my sex partners who themselves have less changing contacts. This may actually result in less antibiotics being used at the bottom line.” 

" with DoxyPEP I protect my sex partners who themselves have less changing contacts"

In Thailand, you can buy Doxycycline cheaply at the pharmacy without a prescription, Tim says. “It only costs a few euros there. One of my relatives lives there, he brings some for me when he comes to the Netherlands.”

*This name is fictious; the real name is known to the editorial team of Winq.nl 

Editorial Note

Man tot Man regularly interviews men about how they protect themselves against HIV and STDs, as well as their sexual experiences. We believe it is important for people to be well-informed and able to think carefully about how they want to protect themselves. We hope that the various personal stories contribute to this. These stories do not necessarily represent the views of Man tot Man. In the Netherlands, experts currently advise against the use of DoxyPEP to prevent STI's. This article was previously published on Winq.nl.

Because Tim wishes to remain anonymous, we have used a stock photo in his story.
Stock photo: Kampus Productions

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