Health Tip of the Week, sponsored by Baton Rouge General: Can your acne medicine prevent STIs?

Research shows that an old antibiotic may work as a morning after pill to prevent sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The study found a 65% reduction in syphilis, chlamydia and gonorrhea among people who took doxycycline within 24 to 72 hours after sex. Doxycycline is a cheap and widely available antibiotic commonly used to treat acne, urinary tract infections, respiratory tract infections, gum disease and more. Just one dose of doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis, called doxy-PEP for short, significantly lowers the risk of those STIs. Learn more about the pill preventing STIs.