Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP)
can help you stay HIV negative, even if your partner might have HIV. This
brochure includes useful tips on what to ask your health care provider
about PrEP and PEP.
Learn more at: cdc.gov/StopHIVTogether.
TM
Now’s the
Time to Find
Out About
PrEP and PEP
LET’S STOP HIV TOGETHER
PrEP: Prevent HIV Before Exposure
What Is PrEP?
PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) is medicine people at risk for HIV take to
prevent getting HIV from sex or injection drug use.
PREP AND PEP11
How Effective Is PrEP?
PrEP is highly effective for preventing HIV. It greatly reduces the risk of
getting HIV from sex when taken as prescribed.
Although there is less information about how effective PrEP is among
people who inject drugs, we do know that PrEP lowers the risk of getting
HIV when taken as prescribed.
PrEP is much less effective when it is not taken as prescribed.
INFORMATION FOR PATIENTS 2INFORMATION FOR PATIENTS 2
Is PrEP Right for Me?
PrEP may be right for you if you test negative for HIV and if any of the
following apply to you:
If you… and you…
have had anal or
vaginal sex in the
past 6 months
have a sexual partner with HIV
(especially if the partner has an
unknown or detectable viral load),
have not consistently used a condom,
or
have been diagnosed with a sexually
transmitted disease (an “STD,” such
as gonorrhea or syphilis) in the past
6 months.
inject drugs
have ever injected drugs (especially
if you have injected drugs in the past
6 months),
have an injection partner with HIV, or
share needles, syringes, or other
equipment to inject drugs (for
example, cookers).
have been
prescribed PEP
(post-exposure
prophylaxis)
may continue to be exposed to HIV in
the future or have used PEP more than
once.
If you have a partner with HIV and are considering getting pregnant, talk
to your health care provider about PrEP if you are not already taking it.
PrEP may be an option to help protect you and your baby from getting HIV
while you try to get pregnant, during pregnancy, or while breastfeeding.
PREP AND PEP3
Can Young People Take PrEP?
Yes. PrEP is approved for use by adolescents without HIV who weigh at
least 77 pounds (35 kilograms) and who are at risk for getting HIV from
sex or injection drug use (see Is PrEP Right for Me?).
How Can I Start PrEP?
Talk to your health care provider if you think PrEP may be right for you.
PrEP can be prescribed only by a health care provider.
Before beginning PrEP, you must take an HIV test to make sure you do
not have HIV.
While taking PrEP, you’ll have to regularly visit your health care provider.
How often these visits occur is different depending on what kind of PrEP
medication you use.
If taking PrEP shots,
visit your provider every
2 months for:
— Your regular
injections.
— Follow-up visits.
— HIV tests and
other tests, as
needed.
— Access to other
services, such
as help keeping
all your medical
appointments.
If taking oral PrEP, visit
your provider every
3 months for:
— Follow-up visits.
— HIV tests and
other tests, as
needed.
— Prescription
refills.
— Access to other
services, such as
help with taking
your medicine as
prescribed.
INFORMATION FOR PATIENTS 4
Are There Different Types of PrEP?
Three medications are approved for use as PrEP:
Truvada
®
(or generic equivalent) pills* are for all people at risk through
sex or injection drug use.
Descovy
®
pills** are for people at risk through sex or injection drug
use, except for people assigned female at birth who could get HIV from
vaginal sex.
Apretude
®
shots*** are for all people at risk through sex.
Is PrEP Safe?
PrEP is safe, but some people experience side effects like diarrhea,
nausea, headache, fatigue, and stomach pain. These side effects usually
go away over time.
Tell your health care provider about any side effects that are severe or
do not go away.
* emtricitabine and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate
** emtricitabine and tenofovir alafenamide
*** cabotegravir
PREP AND PEP5
What if I Need to Stop Taking PrEP?
There are several reasons why people stop taking PrEP:
Your risk of getting HIV becomes low because of changes in your life.
You don’t want to take a pill as prescribed or often forget to take
your pills.
You don’t want to take regular injections as prescribed or have a hard
time getting to your medical visits to receive your injections.
You have side effects from the medicine that interfere with your life.
Blood tests show that your body is reacting to PrEP in unsafe ways.
Talk to your health care provider about other HIV prevention methods
that may work better for you. To learn more, visit: cdc.gov/hiv/basics/
prevention.
INFORMATION FOR PATIENTS 6
If I Stopped Taking PrEP, How Do I Start Taking It Again?
Tell your health care provider that you would like to start taking PrEP
again. You will need to take an HIV test before you start PrEP to make sure
you don’t have HIV.
Can I Take PrEP Just Once, if I Think I Might Have Recently
Been Exposed to HIV?
PrEP is for people who are at ongoing risk for HIV.
PrEP is not the right choice for people who may have been exposed to
HIV in the last 72 hours.
If you may have been exposed to HIV in the last 72 hours, talk to your
health care provider, an emergency room doctor, or an urgent care
provider about PEP.
PREP AND PEP7
Can I Stop Using Condoms if I Take PrEP?
PrEP provides protection from HIV but does not protect against
other STDs.
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.
INFORMATION FOR PATIENTS 8
How Can I Pay for PrEP?
Most insurance plans and state Medicaid programs cover PrEP. There are
also other programs that provide PrEP for free or at a reduced cost:
The Gilead Sciences Advancing Access program helps patients cover
oral PrEP medication costs. Learn more at:
gileadadvancingaccess.com.
ViiVConnect
offers a program to help patients pay for injectable PrEP.
Learn more at: viivconnect.com.
Some states have PrEP assistance programs. Some cover medication,
some cover clinical visits and lab costs, and some cover both. Learn
more at: nastad.org/prepcost-resources/prep-assistance-programs.
PREP AND PEP9
Talking to Your Health Care Provider About
PrEP and PEP
How Do I Talk to My Health Care Provider About
PrEP or PEP?
During Your Visit
Be clear. Tell your provider that you are interested in PrEP (or PEP)
right away.
Give your provider all the details about your life that could be important
to your health. If your sex life or use of injection drugs is a hard topic to
talk about, say that to your provider. It will help to start the conversation.
Tell your provider about your routine, especially things that might make
it easy or hard to take a daily medication or attend regular medical
appointments to receive injections.
Share your health history. This includes any past illnesses or concerns
you have, as well as a list of your current medications (including
supplements, herbs, hormones, etc.).
Ask questions. You want to be sure that you understand what your
provider is telling you.
Take notes during your visit so that you can remember what your
provider said.
After Your Visit
Review your notes and any information from your health care provider.
Call your provider if you have more questions.
Schedule tests or follow-up appointments your provider requested.
Get your results if you had tests done at your appointment.
Get treated if you have an STD.
If you are taking oral PrEP, be sure to keep your prescription filled and
take your medicine as prescribed.
INFORMATION FOR PATIENTS 10
PEP: Prevent HIV After Exposure
What Is PEP?
PEP stands for post-exposure prophylaxis. It means taking antiretroviral
medicines after being potentially exposed to HIV to prevent becoming
infected.
PEP must be started within 72 hours after a recent possible exposure to
HIV, but the sooner you start PEP, the better. Every hour counts. If you’re
prescribed PEP, you’ll need to take it once or twice daily for 28 days. PEP
is effective in preventing HIV when administered correctly, but not 100%.
PREP AND PEP11
Is PEP Right for Me?
Talk to your health care provider or an emergency room doctor about PEP
right away if you are HIV negative or do not know your HIV status, and in
the last 72 hours, you:
1. Think you may have been exposed to HIV during sex (for example, if the
condom broke).
2. Shared needles and works to prepare drugs (for example, cotton, cookers,
water).
3. Were sexually assaulted.
PEP should be used only in emergency situations and must be started
within 72 hours after a recent possible exposure to HIV. It is not a
substitute for:
Regular use of other proven HIV prevention methods, such as PrEP, which
means taking HIV medicines regularly to lower your chance of getting
infected.
Using condoms the right way every time you have sex.
Using only your own new, sterile needles and works every time you inject.
PEP is effective, but not 100%, so you should continue to use condoms
with sex partners and safe injection practices while taking PEP. These
strategies can protect you from being exposed to HIV again and reduce
the chances of transmitting HIV to others if you do become infected while
you are on PEP.
When Should I Take PEP?
PEP must be started within 72 hours after a possible exposure. The
sooner you start PEP, the better; every hour counts.
Starting PEP as soon as possible after a potential HIV exposure is
important. Research has shown that PEP has little or no effect in
preventing HIV infection if it is started later than 72 hours after HIV
exposure. If you’re prescribed PEP, you’ll need to take it once or twice
daily for 28 days.
INFORMATION FOR PATIENTS 12
Does PEP Have Any Side Effects?
PEP is safe but may cause side effects like nausea in some people. These
side effects can be treated, aren’t life threatening, and may go away over
time.
Where Can I Get PEP?
Your health care provider or an emergency room doctor can prescribe
PEP. Talk to them right away if you think you’ve been exposed to HIV in the
last 72 hours.
How Can I Pay for PEP?
If you’re prescribed PEP after a sexual assault, you may qualify for
partial or total reimbursement for medicines and clinical care costs.
For more information, visit: ovc.ojp.gov/states.
If you’re prescribed PEP for another reason and cannot get insurance,
your health care provider can apply for free PEP medicines through the
medication assistance programs run by PEP manufacturers.
To avoid a delay in getting PEP medicine, in many cases, these
applications can be handled urgently.
Can I Take a Round of PEP Every Time I Have
Unprotected Sex?
PEP should only be used in emergency situations.
PEP is not the right choice for people who may be exposed to HIV
frequently. Because PEP is given after a potential exposure to HIV,
multiple drugs and high doses are needed to block infection.
PREP AND PEP13
You can also access this information by calling
CDC-INFO at 800-CDC-INFO (800-232-4636).
Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP)—not PEP—is for people who are at
ongoing risk of getting HIV. PrEP is medicine people at risk for HIV take to
protect themselves from getting HIV. Speak to your health care provider
about PrEP if you think PrEP might be right for you.
Resources
Find a health care provider to prescribe PrEP at: preplocator.org.
Learn more about how to reduce your risk and get information tailored
to meet your needs from the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention’s HIV Risk Reduction Tool. Visit:
hivrisk.cdc.gov.
For more information, visit: cdc.gov/StopHIVTogether.
INFORMATION FOR PATIENTS 14
