Emergent informal use of doxycycline post- and pre-exposure prophylaxis among men who have sex with men and transgender and gender diverse people, the Netherlands, 2024

BACKGROUNDDoxycycline post-exposure and pre-exposure prophylaxis (doxyPEP/PrEP) to prevent sexually transmitted infections (STIs) is not part of standard practice in the Netherlands but may be used informally (without prescription).AIMWe assessed informal use and intention to use doxyPEP/PrEP among...

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Published in:Euro surveillance : bulletin européen sur les maladies transmissibles Vol. 30; no. 26
Main Authors: Teker, Buhari, Hoornenborg, Elske, Schim van der Loeff, Maarten F, Boyd, Anders, Heijne, Janneke CM, Prins, Maria, Davidovich, Udi, de Vries, Henry JC, Jongen, Vita W
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Sweden European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) 03.07.2025
European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control
Subjects:
Adult
Anti-Bacterial Agents - administration & dosage
antimicrobial-resistance
doxycycline
Doxycycline - administration & dosage
Doxycycline - therapeutic use
HIV Infections - prevention & control
Homosexuality, Male - psychology
Homosexuality, Male - statistics & numerical data
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Netherlands - epidemiology
post-exposure prophylaxis
Post-Exposure Prophylaxis - methods
Post-Exposure Prophylaxis - statistics & numerical data
pre-exposure prophylaxis
Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis - methods
Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis - statistics & numerical data
prevention
Sexual and Gender Minorities - psychology
Sexual and Gender Minorities - statistics & numerical data
Sexual Behavior
Sexual Partners
Sexually Transmitted Diseases - prevention & control
STI
Surveys and Questionnaires
Transgender Persons - psychology
Transgender Persons - statistics & numerical data
Young Adult
Netherlands
STI
pre-exposure prophylaxis
doxycycline
post-exposure prophylaxis
prevention
antimicrobial-resistance
ISSN:1560-7917, 1025-496X, 1560-7917
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:BACKGROUNDDoxycycline post-exposure and pre-exposure prophylaxis (doxyPEP/PrEP) to prevent sexually transmitted infections (STIs) is not part of standard practice in the Netherlands but may be used informally (without prescription).AIMWe assessed informal use and intention to use doxyPEP/PrEP among men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender and gender diverse people in the Netherlands.METHODSBetween 26 February and 6 May 2024, we conducted an online survey on informal doxyPEP/PrEP use in the preceding 6 months and intention to use. We assessed the determinants of recent informal use and high intention to use using risk ratio regression.RESULTSOf the 1,633 participating individuals (96.7% MSM) 246 (15%) reported doxyPEP/PrEP use in the preceding 6 months. Informal use was more common among participants who used HIV PrEP or were living with HIV, had ≥ 15 anonymous sexual partners, engaged in chemsex, wanted to protect themselves, got advice from others to use doxyPEP/PrEP and believed doxyPEP/PrEP is safe. High intention to use (n = 1,063 (65%) participants) was more common among participants using HIV PrEP or living with HIV, who wanted to have condomless sex, who wanted to protect others from STIs and who perceived doxyPEP/PrEP as effective and safe.CONCLUSIONAlthough doxyPEP/PrEP is not formally recommended in the Netherlands, survey participants reported informal use and a high intention to use. These findings, combined with the global increase of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), stress the need for close monitoring and further research on the AMR effects of doxyPEP/PrEP use.
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Correspondence: Vita W Jongen (vjongen@ggd.amsterdam.nl)
ISSN:1560-7917
1025-496X
1560-7917
DOI:10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2025.30.26.2400707