WHO Endorses doxyPEP in First-Ever STI Prevention Recommendation

The World Health Organization has issued its first recommendation on doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis, or doxyPEP, marking a significant shift in global sexual-health policy as health authorities look for stronger ways to curb the continued rise of bacterial sexually transmitted infections. Announced on 28 May 2026, the guidance recommends doxyPEP for men who have sex with men and transgender women, following growing evidence that taking doxycycline after sexual exposure can reduce the risk of syphilis and chlamydia and may also lower the risk of gonorrhoea in some settings. WHO stressed that the intervention should not be used in isolation, but as part of a comprehensive sexual-health approach that includes STI testing, counselling, prevention services and careful monitoring of antimicrobial resistance. The recommendation is especially relevant for countries such as South Africa, where sexual-health services remain a key public-health priority and where HIV and STI programmes are closely linked. At the same time, WHO's message is deliberately cautious: doxyPEP offers an important new prevention option for populations at increased risk, but its rollout must be targeted, evidence-based and closely watched to ensure that the benefits of broader STI prevention do not come at the cost of worsening antibiotic resistance.