skip to main content

STI Prevention — Medical Practice MCQ

Instant feedback + full explanation. One question, done properly.

HardInfectious DiseasesSTI Prevention

A man taking HIV PrEP requests doxycycline after every sexual exposure. He had gonorrhoea 10 months ago but no bacterial STI in the past year and is outside the UK groups in whom doxy-PEP may be considered. What is the best UK approach?

Educational content. Not a substitute for clinical judgement or local policy.

Reveal the answer and explanation

Correct answer: A — Do not prescribe routinely; reassess individual STI history and prevention needs through specialist shared decision-making

The best answer is “Do not prescribe routinely; reassess individual STI history and prevention needs through specialist shared decision-making”. BASHH does not recommend population-wide use: eligibility is narrow, benefits must be balanced against resistance and microbiome harms, and regular STI screening continues. “Prescribe doxycycline 100 mg daily indefinitely without microbiological follow-up” is less appropriate because it does not satisfy the scenario's decisive clinical or jurisdictional requirement. “Prescribe ciprofloxacin after each exposure to reduce tetracycline resistance” is less appropriate because it does not satisfy the scenario's decisive clinical or jurisdictional requirement. “Replace three-monthly STI screening with doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis” is less appropriate because it does not satisfy the scenario's decisive clinical or jurisdictional requirement. “Offer doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis to every person taking HIV PrEP” is less appropriate because it does not satisfy the scenario's decisive clinical or jurisdictional requirement.

Reference: BASHH position statement on doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis: https://www.bashh.org/resources/130/doxycycline_postexposure_prophylaxis_doxypep_position_statement/