Syphilis, Tripper & Co.
Sexually transmitted diseases – new morning-after pill protects against infection
A morning-after pill that protects against contracting sexually transmitted diseases? It already exists, but there is a big but.
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Fee Anabelle Riebeling(with material from AFP)
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Sexually transmitted diseases are becoming more common again, including gonorrhea, better known as gonorrhea: This is indicated by the statistics of the World Health Organization WHO in recent years.
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An antibiotic could help fight STDs more efficiently. According to a study published in the New England Journal Of Medicine, it has been shown to prevent two-thirds of sexually transmitted diseases.
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This was the antibiotic doxycycline, which the participants took on average four times a month.
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But not only those who took the antibiotic were better protected. According to the researchers, there were fewer sexually transmitted diseases in circulation overall. (Pictured: the syphilis trigger Treponema pallidum under the electron microscope)
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However, antibiotic resistance must be considered. According to the researchers, resistance has increased in gonococci that transmit gonorrhea.
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Therefore, the application cannot be generally recommended. If at all, it only makes sense for a selective group, according to the scientists’ assessment.
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The researchers also do not recommend long-term use. Because that could lead to side effects and also to problems with male fertility and inflammatory reactions.
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A single-use antibiotic can reduce infection with sexually transmitted diseases.
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Two-thirds of infections could be prevented, a study shows.
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From a researcher’s point of view, however, it should be used sparingly.
An antibiotic that is taken once as the “morning after pill” can prevent infection with bacterial sexually transmitted diseases such as syphilis, gonorrhea or chlamydia significantly decrease. If the pill is taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex, around two thirds of infections can be prevented: this is the result of an im «New England Journal Of Medicine» published international study with the participation of German researchers.
The study included men who have sex with men and trans women who are taking prophylaxis against the HI virus are already living with HIV infection. All subjects had been infected with a sexually transmitted disease in the year before the start of the study. On average, participants took the antibiotic doxycycline four times a month during the study. The preparation will too used to treat tick-induced neoehrlichiosis.
No general recommendation
Patients taking HIV prophylaxis often have unprotected sex, explained Georg Stary from the Institute for Dermatology at the University of Vienna. Some of them are infected with many sexually transmitted diseases. Fewer people in this group contracted syphilis, gonorrhea, or chlamydia as a result of taking doxycycline, there are fewer sexually transmitted diseases in circulation overall. “Accordingly, those who do not take the drug prophylactically may also be protected under certain circumstances,” he explained.
“It is worrying that there was increased resistance in gonococci. While little resistance occurs in chlamydia and syphilis, this is a major problem in gonococci.»
Georg Stary, Institute for Dermatology, Medical University of Vienna
However, antibiotic resistance must be considered. “It is worrying that there was increased resistance in gonococci. While little resistance in chlamydia and syphilis appear, is this a big problem with gonococci?, according to Stary. Therefore, the application cannot be generally recommended. If at all, it only makes sense for a selective group.
Long-term use is also not recommended. «You have to assume it a significant change in the microbiome and with long-term use there will also be more side effects,” explained Norbert Brockmeyer from the Center for Sexual Health and Medicine at the Catholic Clinic in Bochum. Also be Effects on male fertility and expected on the inflammatory response.”
Distribution of the classic morning-after pill is being discussed
The classic morning-after pill, which prevents pregnancy in the hours after unprotected intercourse, is also not entirely uncontroversial (see box). In particular, the type of procedure for dispensing the preparation has been the subject of heated debate in Switzerland in recent months. So far, people who need the morning-after pill go to the pharmacy. There A consultation will take place and a submission form will be filled out. But if Swissmedic has its way, that should change soon. You want them Tighten guidelines: The morning-after pill should become prescription-only.
Preparations with the active ingredient levonorgestrel are approved for use up to a maximum of three days after unprotected sexual intercourse and should be taken at the latest about two days before ovulation. The morning-after pill containing the active ingredient ulipristal acetate can be taken up to five days after unprotected intercourse, but no later than the day before ovulation. It works stronger and can cause stronger side effects.
By taking the Levonorgestrel pregnancy is feigned in the body and the pituitary gland, which controls the female menstrual cycle, is signaled that no further ovulation and no new menstrual bleeding should be initiated in this cycle. It also slows down the build-up of the lining of the uterus and thus prevents implantation of an egg cell.
Ulipristalacetat inhibits or delays ovulation by suppressing surges in lutenizing hormone (LH). This usually occurs about two days before ovulation. If a certain value is reached, the LH triggers the jump. The ulipristal acetate prevents this from happening and thus prevents the unwanted pregnancy. Incidentally, it is also used in lower doses to treat benign tumors of the uterus.
Other countries take a pragmatic approach to preventing unwanted pregnancies. In France, for example, contraceptives are free for 18 to 25 year olds. In Switzerland, all attempts to do so have so far been rejected.
20min
The morning-after pill does not make you infertile and other false claims
In the course of the discussion about the future handling, claims have been made that women who have once taken an emergency contraceptive should later be infertile. “I know a few who did that and at least four out of five wanted a child later, and it didn’t work anymore,” wrote about 20-minute user 5tron5. But according to Cristian Bronz, Senior Physician in Gynecology at the University Hospital Zurich, the unwanted childlessness must have another cause: “The morning-after pill certainly doesn’t make you infertile.”
On closer inspection, the claim that in pregnancy tests from the Clearblue brand turned out to be false a very special morning-after pill is hidden: the plan B abortion pill. The rumor is being spread on Facebook and Tiktok, among others, under the hashtag #PlanBinClearBlueTest. Although there is actually a tablet in the tests, it is used to keep the pregnancy test dry during storage and therefore functional.
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