Sexually transmitted infections have soared over the last decade, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The rise has prompted researchers to experiment with a common antibiotic, which is showing some promising results in this fight.

Doxycycline is a common antibiotic that is used to treat other medical conditions like acne, but an NBC News article said taking the antibiotic after sex – or even taking a smaller dose once a day – could help reduce the risk of catching an STI. This comes after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention did a controlled trial of the medication on gay men, bisexual men and transgender women – a group with an increased risk of getting an STI.

It found that a 200-milligram dose of Doxycycline taken within 72 hours of sex lowered their risk of chlamydia and syphilis by more than 70% and their risk of gonorrhea by around 50%.

Dr. Jonathan Mermin, the CDC’s STI prevention director, said it is too early to know if this will reverse a decade of rising STIs, but there is considerable enthusiasm with this research.