{"title":"Real World Patterns of Sexually Transmitted Infection Testing in the US Reveal Substantial Under Testing and Wide Geographic and Inter-Provider Variation.","authors":"Jason M Baron, Denise LaMarche Heaney","doi":"10.1097/OLQ.0000000000002364","DOIUrl":"10.1097/OLQ.0000000000002364","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Testing for Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) is indicated for diagnostic purposes in symptomatic individuals and for screening purposes in certain populations including sexually active females younger than 25 and partners of individuals who test positive.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Using 2023 insurance claims data from 2 million US individuals in the Marketscan database with commercial insurance or with Medicaid, we quantified rates of CT/NG testing and patterns of co-ordering of tests for additional infections. We assessed variation in testing rates and patterns using mixed effects logistic regression models.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The overall testing rate for CT/NG in 2023 was 23.7% (23.4-24.0%, 95% CI) in females 16 to 24 and 6.9% (6.7-7.1%) in males 16 to 24; rates were lower in older males and older females. Among females 16 to 24 with at least 1 outpatient obstetrician-gynecology visit, the testing rate was only 56%. Testing rates varied by US state with a median odds ratio of 1.34 in females 16 to 24. Symptomatic females tested for CT/NG were also tested for Trichomonas vaginalis , Mycoplasma genitalium and HSV in 62%, 6%, and 4% of cases, respectively. Patterns of test co-ordering varied widely by reason for testing and specific provider.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>CT/NG testing rates were low. Differences between rates of testing and sexual activity in females under 25 suggest guideline nonadherence (sexual activity estimated based on our analysis of NHANES survey data and prior literature including Halpern, 2012 and Rimsza, 2005). Wide geographic and interprovider variation in testing patterns argues for improved testing systems and practice.</p>","PeriodicalId":21837,"journal":{"name":"Sexually transmitted diseases","volume":" ","pages":"746-753"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13557478/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148158166","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Diane Ballard, Puja Seth, Lindsey Evans, Connor Schultz, Alexandra Coor, Tynisha Gantt, Kristen Eberly, Stanley C Wei
{"title":"Strategies to Support HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Implementation: A National Programmatic Experience in Sexually Transmitted Infection Clinics.","authors":"Diane Ballard, Puja Seth, Lindsey Evans, Connor Schultz, Alexandra Coor, Tynisha Gantt, Kristen Eberly, Stanley C Wei","doi":"10.1097/OLQ.0000000000002376","DOIUrl":"10.1097/OLQ.0000000000002376","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a highly effective human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevention method. Expanding access to PrEP is essential to strengthening HIV prevention efforts and supporting national HIV prevention goals. National efforts to improve PrEP services in sexually transmitted infection (STI) specialty clinics were assessed by measuring changes in clinic capacity and patient outcomes and identifying key implementation strategies.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Quantitative and qualitative data were collected on activities from January 1, 2021, through December 31, 2023, as part of two programs led by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. One program supported 26 health department STI clinics in 15 states and the District of Columbia; the other supported the National Network of STD Clinical Prevention Training Centers (NNPTC). Using a mixed-methods evaluation approach, quantitative data included clinic capacity assessments and aggregate visit-level patient outcome measures; qualitative reports were thematically analyzed for PrEP implementation strategies and NNPTC support activities.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Clinics reported increases in PrEP prescriptions and in capacity to provide PrEP services. Five key implementation strategies supporting in-house PrEP provision were identified: navigation services with referral networks, multimedia marketing campaigns, same-day PrEP initiation, long-acting injectable PrEP, and patient-centered education materials. NNPTC supported clinics by offering training, technical assistance, and other resources to address implementation barriers.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>STI clinics are a key venue for PrEP delivery. National efforts to expand PrEP services in this setting were supported by tailored implementation strategies and partnership with NNPTC. The findings highlight opportunities to further improve PrEP access and strengthen HIV prevention services nationally.</p>","PeriodicalId":21837,"journal":{"name":"Sexually transmitted diseases","volume":" ","pages":"726-732"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13557469/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148303203","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jason S Melo, Trang Q Nguyen, Oliver Bacon, Madeline Sankaran, Julia M Janssen, Robert P Kohn, Anne F Luetkemeyer, Patrick S Sullivan, Stephanie E Cohen
{"title":"Measuring Doxycycline Postexposure Prophylaxis Use Relative to Sexually Transmitted Infection Rates at a San Francisco STI Clinic Reveals Racial Inequities in Disease Prevention Impact.","authors":"Jason S Melo, Trang Q Nguyen, Oliver Bacon, Madeline Sankaran, Julia M Janssen, Robert P Kohn, Anne F Luetkemeyer, Patrick S Sullivan, Stephanie E Cohen","doi":"10.1097/OLQ.0000000000002380","DOIUrl":"10.1097/OLQ.0000000000002380","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Doxycycline postexposure prophylaxis (doxyPEP) must reach people at high risk for bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STIs) to reduce STI rates and inequities. PrEP-to-Need Ratios (PNR) identified inequities in pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) by measuring PrEP prescriptions relative to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) rates. We evaluated a novel application of the PNR framework to doxyPEP for STIs to identify inequities in doxyPEP by race/ethnicity.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Using cross-sectional clinical and surveillance datasets, we compared doxyPEP use relative to STI diagnoses, a measure of need, among patients eligible for a doxyPEP prescription seen at San Francisco City Clinic in the 3 years following the release of citywide doxyPEP guidelines (October 2022). \"Use\" was defined as having received a prescription for or self-reporting taking doxyPEP. \"Need\" was the number of unique patients diagnosed with at least one chlamydia, gonorrhea, or early syphilis infection. The doxyPEP-to-Need Ratio (dPNR) was calculated as the ratio of \"use\" to \"need\" and was compared by race/ethnicity and year.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>By the end of the evaluation period (September 2025), doxyPEP use was highest among eligible Latine patients (76%), then Asian (71%) and White (67%) patients, and lowest among Black patients (59%). However, because Latine and Black patients had similarly higher rates of doxyPEP-preventable infections compared with Asian and White patients, dPNR was consistently higher for Asian and White patients compared with Latine and Black patients. Latine and Black patients experienced persistently lower doxyPEP use relative to need compared with White patients.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The dPNR is a novel and useful metric for identifying actionable inequities in doxyPEP access for STI prevention.</p>","PeriodicalId":21837,"journal":{"name":"Sexually transmitted diseases","volume":" ","pages":"712-719"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148303212","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Lao-Tzu Allan-Blitz, Gary A Richwald, Jeffrey D Klausner
{"title":"Use of Herpes Simplex Virus Type-1 and Type-2 Antibody Tests for Targeted Screening for Genital Herpes.","authors":"Lao-Tzu Allan-Blitz, Gary A Richwald, Jeffrey D Klausner","doi":"10.1097/OLQ.0000000000002336","DOIUrl":"10.1097/OLQ.0000000000002336","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":21837,"journal":{"name":"Sexually transmitted diseases","volume":" ","pages":"e78-e81"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147843078","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Benjamin L Hamel, Elizabeth L Klusman, Emma E Seagle Roth, J Ashenayi, Kel L Wilkinson, Harold C Wiesenfeld, Ken S Ho
{"title":"HIV PrEP Knowledge and Prescribing Patterns Among Healthcare Providers in Southwestern Pennsylvania.","authors":"Benjamin L Hamel, Elizabeth L Klusman, Emma E Seagle Roth, J Ashenayi, Kel L Wilkinson, Harold C Wiesenfeld, Ken S Ho","doi":"10.1097/OLQ.0000000000002382","DOIUrl":"10.1097/OLQ.0000000000002382","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Despite the proven effectiveness of HIV PrEP, uptake remains suboptimal, and provider-level barriers have been shown to impede implementation. Southwestern Pennsylvania, including Allegheny County, has a high HIV burden, yet limited data exist on regional provider knowledge, comfort, and prescribing practices. This study surveyed healthcare providers across different specialties to identify gaps and modifiable barriers influencing PrEP uptake.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A cross-sectional survey was distributed to healthcare providers across the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center from September 2025 to January 2026. The 29-item survey assessed self-assessment of PrEP knowledge, prescribing comfort, likelihood of future prescribing, perceived barriers and facilitators, and provider demographics.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Two hundred and sixty-seven healthcare providers completed the survey (9.3% response rate). Only 104 (38.9%) providers reported good or better PrEP knowledge, with substantially lower rates for PrEP side effects and monitoring requirements. Based on self-assessment, physicians had significantly higher odds of PrEP knowledge (odds ratio [OR] [95% confidence intervals (CI)] = 4.37 [2.27-8.59]), prescribing comfort (OR [95% CI] = 5.84 [2.52-13.51]), and prescribing likelihood (OR [95% CI] = 4.30 [1.66-11.15]) compared with advanced practice providers. Pediatric, obstetrics-gynecology, and emergency medicine providers had significantly lower prescribing likelihood compared with family medicine. The most cited structural barriers were lack of provider training (71.3%) and insufficient clinic protocols (63.3%).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Significant specialty-specific disparities in PrEP knowledge and prescribing readiness persist. Enhancing provider education, clinical protocols, and structural supports may improve PrEP implementation and strengthen regional HIV prevention efforts.</p>","PeriodicalId":21837,"journal":{"name":"Sexually transmitted diseases","volume":" ","pages":"740-745"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148607632","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Stephanie F Sweitzer, Erika Samoff, Victoria Mobley, Anna B Cope, Arlene C Seña
{"title":"Gaps in Syphilis Screening Among Pregnant Women in North Carolina.","authors":"Stephanie F Sweitzer, Erika Samoff, Victoria Mobley, Anna B Cope, Arlene C Seña","doi":"10.1097/OLQ.0000000000002373","DOIUrl":"10.1097/OLQ.0000000000002373","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Congenital syphilis rates have risen nationally and in North Carolina (NC). We assessed syphilis screening among pregnant women in NC.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A retrospective chart review was conducted among patients with a pregnancy episode-created at first prenatal care encounter or labor/delivery-at an NC health system from January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2023. We estimated the proportion with syphilis screening at timepoints required by NC law (before 28 weeks of gestation, 28-31 weeks of gestation, and within 1 week of delivery) using syphilis test dates and delivery dates. We estimated prevalence ratios (PR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using log binomial regression with generalized estimating equations to explore associations between clinical and sociodemographic factors and syphilis screening.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>We identified 64,803 pregnancies among 54,446 patients. Syphilis screening was conducted at least once in 99.5% of pregnancies. Only 27.6% had syphilis screening recorded at 28 to 31 weeks, and 22.0% had all required syphilis screening. Completion of required syphilis screening was more common among women aged 18 to 24 compared with ≥35 years (PR, 1.15; CI, 1.10-1.21), and those who were uninsured compared with privately insured (PR, 1.33; CI, 1.27-1.39), but less common among Black/African American women compared with White women (PR, 0.93; CI, 0.89-0.96), those who preferred non-English languages for healthcare communication compared with English (PR, 0.85; CI, 0.81-0.90), and who initiated care in an emergency department compared with a women's health clinic (PR, 0.13; 95% CI, 0.12-0.15).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Completion of all required syphilis screening was low among pregnant women, highlighting a major gap in congenital syphilis prevention.</p>","PeriodicalId":21837,"journal":{"name":"Sexually transmitted diseases","volume":" ","pages":"754-761"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13618884/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148266165","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Olivia T Van Gerwen, Erica Mann, Katelyn S Day, Jiaying Hao, Kristal J Aaron, Renee Heffron, Lorenzo Corsini, Christina A Muzny
{"title":"Characterization of the Clinical Manifestations of Bacterial Vaginosis at a Tertiary Care Infectious Diseases Vaginitis Clinic in the United States.","authors":"Olivia T Van Gerwen, Erica Mann, Katelyn S Day, Jiaying Hao, Kristal J Aaron, Renee Heffron, Lorenzo Corsini, Christina A Muzny","doi":"10.1097/OLQ.0000000000002367","DOIUrl":"10.1097/OLQ.0000000000002367","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is common and characterized by heterogeneous presentations. We aimed to determine BV subtype prevalence among women attending a United States infectious diseases vaginitis specialty clinic at initial and follow-up visits and identify factors associated with BV subtypes.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Medical records from adult patients were reviewed, including demographics, visit frequency, STI history, symptoms, and diagnoses. Chi-square, Fisher exact, and Wilcoxon rank-sum tests compared women with and without BV. Modified Poisson models with generalized estimating equations assessed associations between characteristics and BV subtypes.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Between June 2021 and December 2024, 149 patients were evaluated; 49 (32.9%) had BV at the initial visit. Recurrent BV was most common (n = 27, 55.1%), followed by uncomplicated symptomatic BV (n = 18, 36.7%), asymptomatic BV (n = 3, 6.1%), and refractory BV (n = 1, 2.0%). Black women were more likely than White women to have BV (adjusted relative risk [aRR]: 3.92, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.66-9.27), as were women with a pregnancy history (aRR: 2.37, 95% CI: 1.23-5.03). No predictors were identified for uncomplicated BV. Recurrent BV was associated with younger age (≤25 y; aRR: 4.29, 95% CI: 1.06-17.29), higher body mass index (BMI) (aRR: 3.48 for BMI 25-29.9; aRR: 3.06 for BMI ≥30), STI history (aRR: 2.19, 95% CI: 1.05-4.57), and a pregnancy history (aRR: 3.14, 95% CI: 1.22-8.06).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>High BV prevalence and frequent recurrent BV were observed. Race, obesity, STI history, and a pregnancy history were associated with recurrent BV. Further research is needed to characterize factors influencing recurrent BV to optimize sexual health outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":21837,"journal":{"name":"Sexually transmitted diseases","volume":" ","pages":"685-692"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148219902","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Effective Alternative Treatment Regimens for Syphilis: Is Doxycycline Enough?","authors":"Lindley A Barbee, Arlene C Seña","doi":"10.1097/OLQ.0000000000002363","DOIUrl":"10.1097/OLQ.0000000000002363","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":21837,"journal":{"name":"Sexually transmitted diseases","volume":" ","pages":"e87-e88"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148043802","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Mary Bridget Waters, Laura C Chambers, Lisa E Manhart, Sarah S Romano, Anjuli D Wagner, Tim W Menza, Christine M Khosropour
{"title":"Sequential Sex Practices and the Likelihood of Bacterial Sexually Transmitted Infections and Urethritis in Men Who Have Sex With Women.","authors":"Mary Bridget Waters, Laura C Chambers, Lisa E Manhart, Sarah S Romano, Anjuli D Wagner, Tim W Menza, Christine M Khosropour","doi":"10.1097/OLQ.0000000000002369","DOIUrl":"10.1097/OLQ.0000000000002369","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Mathematical modeling studies suggest that sequential sex practices (SSPs) among men who have sex with men are necessary to produce observed rates of bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Nearly all models of bacterial STIs in opposite-sex partnerships have focused exclusively on urogenital infections, although SSPs may lead to extragenital infections. The frequency of SSPs and their associations with bacterial STIs among men who have sex with women (MSW) is not well-characterized.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We utilized data from a 6-month cohort study of male urethritis in Seattle, WA (2014-2018); our analysis included MSW aged ≥16 y. Each month, participants completed questionnaires ascertaining SSPs, were evaluated for nongonococcal urethritis (NGU), and provided urine samples for urethral bacterial STI testing. We identified the most frequent SSPs reported at participants' last sexual encounter before testing and used generalized estimating equations to estimate the probability of positive urethral STI and of NGU.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The 184 participants included in the analysis reported 528 sexual encounters; 76% of sexual encounters included >1 sex act. The most frequently reported SSPs were insertive oral sex followed by vaginal sex (57.4%), vaginal sex only (19.5%), and vaginal sex followed by insertive oral sex (9.5%). Overall, participants had four positive urethral STI tests and 14 cases of NGU without a positive urethral STI test.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Among MSW, there are clear patterns in the frequency of types of sex and SSPs. These data can inform the development of more robust mathematical models of bacterial STI transmission among MSW.</p>","PeriodicalId":21837,"journal":{"name":"Sexually transmitted diseases","volume":" ","pages":"679-684"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13367036/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148303142","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Paul A D'Avanzo, Craig J Heck, Emma Tucker, Jason Zucker
{"title":"Patient Information, Motivations, and Behavioral Skills during Early Implementation of Doxy-PEP in New York City.","authors":"Paul A D'Avanzo, Craig J Heck, Emma Tucker, Jason Zucker","doi":"10.1097/OLQ.0000000000002361","DOIUrl":"10.1097/OLQ.0000000000002361","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Doxycycline postexposure prophylaxis (doxy-PEP) has been shown to be an effective strategy for preventing bacterial sexually transmitted infections; however, factors affecting its uptake, persistence, and effective use have yet to be thoroughly explored. This study qualitatively assessed the information, motivations, and behavioral skills (IMB) related to doxy-PEP uptake and use among a health-seeking sample in New York City.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Between July 2023 and January 2024, in-depth semistructured interviews were conducted with 14S patients attending an academic sexual health clinic in Northern Manhattan. Transcripts were analyzed using an IMB framework-guided thematic analysis with additional deductive codes to identify subthemes.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Half of the patients interviewed were using doxy-PEP at the time of interview (n = 7). Major IMB themes included Information: doxy-PEP Knowledge/Awareness, and Information: doxy-PEP Information Sources; Motivations: sexually transmitted infections Vulnerability, Motivations: Concerns about Side-Effects, and Motivations: Concerns about Antimicrobial Resistance; and Behavioral Skills: doxy-PEP Access, and Behavioral Skills: Timing of Sexual Activity.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This qualitative analysis identified several IMB factors that may help guide ongoing efforts to increase equitable access and effective use of doxy-PEP. Patients were generally well-informed about doxy-PEP, though some confusion regarding the strategy was noted, which supports ongoing patient education. Specific concerns related to antimicrobial resistance emerged as factors that may affect both intention and motivation to adopt and continue using doxy-PEP, emphasizing the importance of resistance monitoring. Finally, complementary behavioral strategies that were described, such as the \"clumping\" of sexual partners, require additional study to discern how this may affect long-term doxy-PEP effective use.</p>","PeriodicalId":21837,"journal":{"name":"Sexually transmitted diseases","volume":" ","pages":"720-725"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148017264","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}