PrEP
You can safely prevent HIV transmission with PrEP
PrEP (Pre-exposure prophylaxis) is medication taken by HIV-negative people before and after sex to reduce the risk of getting HIV. PrEP only protects you from HIV and does not protect you from any other STIs, or pregnancy.
PrEP is available for free on the NHS through local sexual health (GUM) clinics. You can find a list of clinics offering PrEP in England here. Positive East can also support you with accessing PrEP, by contacting clinics on your behalf.
Before starting PrEP
Before starting PrEP you will need to:
- Test for HIV to ensure you are HIV negative
- Have a kidney function blood test – note that the PrEP available on the NHS is not suitable for those with kidney function issues
These tests may be repeated after you have been taking PrEP for 6 weeks.
How to take PrEP
There are different ways to take PrEP depending on the sex you are having and how regularly you are having unprotected sex:
Some people only take one pill of PrEP daily.
If you’re having receptive vaginal or frontal sex, you’ll need to take one pill every day, 7 days before, and 7 days after sex
For anal sex, or penetrative vaginal/frontal sex you can take Event-based PrEP.
This is when you take 2 pills between 2 to 24 hours before sex, then 1 pill 24 hours after the first double dose, and then 1 final pill 24 hours after the second dose.
For example, if you plan to have sex around 7pm on Friday, you will need to take two pills between 7pm on Thursday and 5pm on Friday. You will then take a follow up pill on 7pm on Saturday and 7pm on Sunday.
If you have continue having sex for more than one day, you can continue taking one pill every 24 hours for the two days after you last had sex.
PEP
PEP can reliably prevent HIV infection after sex.
PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) is a course of medication taken by HIV negative people after sex to reduce the risk of getting HIV, it can stop an HIV infection after the virus has entered the body. PEP needs to be taken within 72 hours (3 days) of the potential exposure to HIV, but is most effective within the first 24 hours. It is a course of medication that is taken for 28 days.
A 28 day course is effective for both vaginal and anal sex.
PEP is available at sexual health (GUM) clinics or from A&E. Find your sexual health clinic here.
PEP is free on the NHS but is not given routinely to everyone who asks for it. Only people who meet the guidelines will be offered PEP.
