HIV: PrEP and PEP
Source: MedlinePlus Health Topics, U.S. National Library of Medicine
What are PrEP and PEP? PrEP and PEP are medicines to prevent HIV . Each type is used in a different situation: PrEP stands for pre-exposure prophylaxis. It is for people who don't already have HIV but are at risk of getting it. PrEP is medicine that can reduce this risk. You can take it as a pill every day or as an injection every two or six months. With PrEP, if you do get exposed to HIV, the medicine can stop HIV from taking hold and spreading throughout your body. PEP stands for post-exposure prophylaxis. PEP is for people who have possibly been exposed to HIV. It is only for emergency situations. PEP must be started within 72 hours after a possible exposure to HIV. PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) Who should consider taking PrEP? PrEP can help protect you if you don't have HIV and any of these applies to you: You have had anal or vaginal sex in the past 6 months and: Have a sexual partner with HIV, Have not consistently used a condom, OR Have been diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection (STI) in the past 6 months You inject drugs and: Share needles or other equipment to inject drugs OR Have an injection partner with HIV You have been prescribed PEP and: Continue engaging in high-risk behaviors OR Have used multiple courses of PEP If you have a partner who is HIV-positive and are considering getting pregnant, talk to your health care provider about PrEP. Taking it may help protect you and your fetus or baby from getting an HIV infection while you try to get pregnant, during pregnancy , or while breastfeeding. How well does PrEP work? PrEP is very effective when you take it consistently. It reduces the risk of getting HIV from sex by about 99%. In people who inject drugs, it reduces the risk of HIV by at least 74%. PrEP is much less effective if you do not take it consistently. PrEP does not protect against other STIs, so you should still use latex condoms every time you have sex. If your or your partner is allergic to latex , you can use polyurethane condo