Doxy-PEP & Doxy-PrEP: Doxycycline for STI Prevention in Fort Myers, FL
Medically reviewed by Sivakumar Raman, MD — Board-Certified, Infectious Disease · Reviewed July 2026
Doxy-PEP (doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis) is a single 200 mg dose of the antibiotic doxycycline taken within 72 hours after sex to reduce the risk of bacterial sexually transmitted infections — syphilis, chlamydia, and gonorrhea. This post-exposure approach is the method supported by clinical trials and recommended in the CDC’s 2024 guidance. At Florida Infectious Disease Care in Fort Myers, our board-certified infectious disease physicians provide Doxy-PEP with same-day appointments, telehealth across Florida, and all insurance plans accepted.
How Doxy-PEP works
Doxycycline is a well-established, inexpensive antibiotic used safely for decades. Taken as a single dose within 72 hours after condomless sex — the sooner, the better — it can stop the bacteria that cause syphilis, chlamydia, and gonorrhea from establishing an infection. In the landmark DoxyPEP trial, it lowered overall bacterial STIs by roughly two-thirds, with the largest reductions in chlamydia and syphilis and a smaller, more variable effect on gonorrhea, which depends on local antibiotic-resistance patterns. It does not prevent HIV or other viral infections — for HIV prevention, ask us about PrEP and PEP, which can be prescribed alongside Doxy-PEP as part of a complete prevention plan.
Who should consider Doxy-PEP?
- Gay and bisexual men, other men who have sex with men, and transgender women who have had at least one bacterial STI (syphilis, chlamydia, or gonorrhea) in the past 12 months — the group for whom the CDC recommends Doxy-PEP
- Patients in this group with repeated bacterial STIs despite consistent testing and treatment
For other populations — including cisgender women — the CDC notes there is currently insufficient evidence to recommend Doxy-PEP routinely. That does not mean it is never appropriate; it means the decision should be individualized. Our specialists will review your history, discuss what the evidence does and does not show for your specific circumstances, and build a prevention plan around you.
What about “Doxy-PrEP” (daily dosing)?
You may see the term Doxy-PrEP used for taking doxycycline daily, before exposures, rather than after. It is important to be clear: current clinical-trial evidence and the CDC’s 2024 guidance support the post-exposure (Doxy-PEP) approach — a dose within 72 hours after sex. Ongoing daily dosing is not currently a recommended standard, both because the evidence for it is limited and because continuous antibiotic use raises the risk of driving antibiotic resistance. In rare, individually selected situations, an infectious disease specialist may discuss alternative dosing after a careful conversation about the limited evidence, benefits, and risks — but for nearly all patients, the recommended and evidence-based option is Doxy-PEP taken as needed. This is exactly the kind of nuanced decision our specialists are trained to guide.
Safety and side effects
Doxycycline is generally well tolerated. The most common side effects are stomach upset (take it with food and a full glass of water), sun sensitivity — worth knowing in Southwest Florida; use sunscreen — and, uncommonly, irritation of the esophagus if taken lying down. It is not appropriate in pregnancy. Because widespread antibiotic use can drive resistance, we prescribe Doxy-PEP thoughtfully, monitor for resistance trends, and pair it with regular STI screening — this is exactly the kind of stewardship an infectious disease practice is built for.
How to get Doxy-PEP in Fort Myers — or anywhere in Florida
Call (239) 245-8223 or book online. We offer same-day appointments, in person at our Fort Myers office or by telehealth anywhere in Florida. Your visit includes a confidential risk assessment, baseline STI testing, and — when appropriate — a prescription you can fill the same day. We accept all insurance plans, and self-pay patients are welcome. We are open 7 days a week.
1. Online Consultation with an Infectious Disease Doctor
2. Easy At-Home Testing
3. PrEP Medication Delivered to Your Doorstep
Other Service
Here are our other services we serve as a professional and expert:
Appointments Scheduled at your convenience.
- Portable Infusion Pump Management
- Insurance and benefit Verification
- On Call Infectious Disease Physician
- Available 7 days a week
FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
Doxy-PEP is a single 200 mg dose of doxycycline taken within 72 hours after sex to reduce the risk of syphilis, chlamydia, and gonorrhea. The sooner after exposure it's taken, the better it works.
Doxy-PEP is taken after a potential exposure — a single dose within 72 hours. “Doxy-PrEP” refers to taking doxycycline daily, before exposures. Current evidence and CDC guidance support the post-exposure (Doxy-PEP) approach; daily dosing is not a recommended standard and carries greater antibiotic-resistance concerns. Our specialists can explain which approach fits your situation.
In the DoxyPEP trial, it reduced overall bacterial STIs by about two-thirds, with the strongest effect on chlamydia and syphilis and a smaller, more variable effect on gonorrhea because of antibiotic resistance. It does not protect against HIV — ask us about HIV PrEP and PEP for that.
No. Doxy-PEP works only against bacterial STIs. For HIV prevention we prescribe PrEP (daily or long-acting) and, after a possible exposure, PEP — which must be started within 72 hours and is available from us the same day you call.
For most patients, yes — doxycycline has decades of safety history. The main considerations are stomach upset, sun sensitivity, and responsible use to limit antibiotic resistance, which is why Doxy-PEP should be prescribed and monitored by a physician rather than improvised. As infectious disease specialists, antibiotic stewardship is central to how we prescribe.
Yes — we perform baseline STI and HIV testing before starting Doxy-PEP, and the CDC recommends testing for STIs and HIV every 3 to 6 months while using it. Regular screening is part of what makes the strategy work and helps us watch for antibiotic resistance.
We accept all insurance plans, and self-pay patients are welcome — doxycycline itself is an inexpensive generic medication. Call (239) 245-8223 and our staff will verify your coverage before your visit.
Yes — we see patients by video anywhere in Florida, with lab orders sent to a location near you and prescriptions to your pharmacy. Same-week telehealth appointments are usually available, often same-day.
Florida Infectious Disease Care ·
14192 Metropolis Ave, Fort Myers, FL 33912 ·
(239) 245-8223 ·
Open 7 days a week ·
Same-day appointments ·
All insurance accepted ·
- Content aligned to CDC Clinical Guidelines on Doxy-PEP (MMWR 2024) and the DoxyPEP trial (Luetkemeyer et al., NEJM 2023). Efficacy stated qualitatively so it stays accurate as resistance data evolves.
- Daily ‘Doxy-PrEP’ is presented as NOT a recommended standard, consistent with current evidence — this protects the practice clinically. Change only if your own protocol differs and you can support it.
- Population list follows CDC (MSM and transgender women with a bacterial STI in the prior 12 months; insufficient evidence for cisgender women).
- Internal links to add when pasting: link the ‘PrEP’ and ‘PEP’ mentions to /services/prep/ and /services/pep/; link the appointment button to /make-an-appointment/.