We don’t slut-shame, here at Daily Squirt. We celebrate sluts. For many guys, describing yourself as a slut is a form of empowerment – you’re a sexually active man who has sex with men. You’re smashing it!

Talking about “bareback sex” is also a bit pejorative. The sexual health landscape has evolved considerably from the years when having sex without a condom was considered “unprotected” – the concept of “bareback sex” became taboo because we associated it with a higher risk of transmitting and acquiring HIV.

Today, the combined forces of PrEP and TasP have given us effective tools against the transmission and acquisition of HIV – meaning that pretty much everyone is having “bareback sex.” Things change.

One of the recent developments in the sexual health landscape is the increasing use of Doxycycline as a way of minimising the impact of Sexually Transmitted Infections. Let’s Explore

What is Doxycycline?

Doxycycline is a broad-spectrum antibiotic. It’s primarily used to treat infections caused by bacteria.

It’s frequently used in the treatment of bacterial pneumonia and acne. However, always the innovators, the gay community has discovered that taking Doxycycline after sex can help to prevent the acquisition of any STIs that your hook-up might be bringing to the party.

What is Doxy PeP?

When people talk about Doxy PeP, they’re talking about taking Doxycycline as a post-exposure prophylactic. Doxycycline usually comes in capsule form and is taken orally.

Disclaimer – we’re not doctors, so don’t rely on us for medical advice, but the general strategy is to take one recommended dose of Doxycycline as soon as possible after your sexual encounter.

It’s believed that this strategy is most effective if the Doxycycline is taken within 24 hours of your sexual encounter and that it probably won’t have much benefit if it’s after 72 hours of your sexual encounter.

Is Doxy PeP A “Kill All” for STIs?

It’s important to remember that a Doxy PeP strategy isn’t going to protect you from all the STIs that you might encounter – whether that’s one-on-one fun or a gay group sex meetup.

Doxycycline should give you some protection against STIs such as gonorrhea, chlamydia, and syphilis. However, Doxycycline won’t protect you against STIs such as HIV or Mpox, so keep up your PrEP schedule and get vaccinated.

Do I Need a Prescription for Doxy PeP?

Availability of Doxycycline will vary depending on where you are in the world. As a general guide, Doxycycline normally requires a prescription from a doctor.

It’s always a good idea to talk to your doctor, a health professional, or a sexual health clinic before taking something like Doxycycline – it’s a good chance to review your medical history, discuss any current issues, and complete your regular STI screening.

Are there any side effects from Doxy PeP?

Antibiotics work by killing bacteria. Like most antibiotics, Doxycycline can’t distinguish between “good” and “bad” bacteria. That’s why an antibiotic such as Doxycycline will disrupt your digestive system – it will kill the “good” bacteria in your gut that are essential to healthy digestion. This bacteria is often referred to as your gut microbiome.

How that might present itself is that you might experience diarrhea or an upset stomach after taking Doxycycline. If you take Doxycycline frequently, your gut microbiome can never recover, and you could compromise your digestive health.

How Do I Talk to a Doctor About Getting PrEP or Doxy PeP?

Not every medical professional will be in favour of your taking Doxycycline. There are concerns that the widespread use of antibiotics – particularly in a post-exposure-prophylactic scenario – can increase viral and bacterial resistance, making the antibiotics less effective for the general population.

If you seek a prescription for Doxycycline, you may need to be assertive and transparent in explaining why you want to take the antibiotic. You may also need to shop around to find a health professional who understands why a Doxy PeP strategy is effective for you.

Educating yourself about Doxycycline and being able to discuss a Doxy PeP strategy articulately will be helpful when communicating with health professionals. You are more likely to secure the outcome you’re looking for if you can anticipate their concerns, demonstrate that you understand the issues, and explain why you feel that the prescription will help to support your overall health and well-being.

What If I Want to Have Gay Anal Sex with a Condom?

While condoms aren’t as commonly used as they used to be, there’s a range of reasons why you might prefer to use a condom when having sex.

Condoms can still play an effective role in minimizing the risk of STIs. As mentioned above, like any antibiotic, using Doxycycline as your sole post-exposure prophylactic may lead to antibiotic resistance. As this PeP technique is relatively new, there isn’t much data to ensure Doxycycline’s efficacy remains strong if you use it for every bareback gang bang.

As mentioned above, your gut microbiome may also be in a tough spot if you are always on antibiotics. Weigh the benefits of bareback sex and use a condom if you need a break from the pills; frottage is severely underrated. Get your gay circle jerk when in need of some non-penetrative sexual release.

Continue to get tested, and don’t be afraid to ask your hookup partner when they last got tested. Understand the circumstance when this question may seem invasive, but if you have a constant fuck buddy who you know, being direct is important when your health is on the line.

Some guys might feel that an insistence on using condoms is a deal-breaker, so if your preference is for gay condom sex, it’s best to be direct and clear about your expectations. You might reference it in your hook-up app’s bio or make sure you flag it early in your chat. Don’t let it be a surprise for your hookup when they arrive; being clear about your hookup preferences ensures less hurt feelings, full transparency and no wasted time.

Using platforms like Squirt.org can make it easier to communicate your preferences and have the sex that you want, as well as let other users know you’re ready to get bred, filled up with hot jizz, but you’re still a sex-positive, sex-responsible, sex god who knows how to get down and consider safe hookup practices.

Read More on Doxy-PeP Tactics Below

• Doxycycline for STI Prevention: Highly Effective, Minimal Drug Resistance 
• Doxycycline Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (Doxy-PEP) to Prevent Bacterial Sexually Transmitted Infections
• Vox: There’s a morning-after pill to prevent sexually transmitted infections

Written by Gareth Johnson