Prevent
Why Should I Take PrEP?
PrEP medications allow those at risk for HIV to take control of their health and reduce their risk. PrEP reduces the risk of contracting HIV from sex by more than 99%. Among people who inject drugs, it reduces the risk by more than 74-84%.
You can lower your risk of getting HIV from sex and other STDs by combining PrEP with condoms and other prevention methods.
Is PrEP Right for Me?
PrEP is for people without HIV, who are at risk of contracting HIV from sex or injection drug use. Check your eligibility.
PrEP is right for me if I am
- a sexually active gay or bisexual man
- a sexually active heterosexual man or woman
- a sexually active transgender person
- a person who injects drugs or share needles
- a person who has been prescribed multiple courses of post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP)
- a person who has a sexual partner with HIV (especially if the partner has a viral load that is unknown or detectable)
- a person with history of inconsistent or no condom use with sexual partner(s)
- a person diagnosed with an STD in the past 6 months
PEP
PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) is a medication used to prevent HIV infection after exposure to the virus.
PEP is only effective if started within 72 hours after exposure and should just be used in emergency situations.
If you think you’ve recently been exposed to HIV, immediately contact your health care provider or visit an emergency room, urgent care, or a local health department location for a PEP prescription.
PEP is a 28-day daily prescription.
If you think you’re at on-going risk for HIV, learn about making PrEP part of your daily routine.
Your PrEP Questions Answered
Is PrEP safe?
Tell your health care provider about any side effects that are severe or do not go away.
How long do I have to take PrEP before it is highly effective?
For receptive anal sex (bottoming), PrEP reaches maximum protection from HIV at about 7 days of daily use.
For receptive vaginal sex and injection drug use, PrEP reaches maximum protection at about 21 days of daily use.
PrEP Effectiveness
Will PrEP interfere with my hormone therapy?
Continuing PrEP
How can I get PrEP if I'm uninsured?
Uninsured patients can access PrEP medications through Gilead Advancing Access program.
Can I stop using condoms if I take PrEP?
PrEP provides protection from HIV, but does not protect against other STDs. You can lower your risk of getting HIV from sex and other STDs by combining PrEP with condoms and other prevention methods.
Condoms can help prevent other STDs that can be transmitted through genital fluids, such as gonorrhea and chlamydia.
Condoms are less effective at preventing STDs that can be transmitted through sores or cuts on the skin, like human papillomavirus, genital herpes, and syphilis
What if I need to stop taking PrEP?
- If you would like to stop taking PrEP, talk to your health care provider about other HIV prevention methods that may work better for you.
- If you've stopped taking PrEP but want to restart, talk with your health care provider. You will need to take an HIV test before you start PrEP to make sure you don’t have HIV.
