HIV Prevention
Pre-exposure Prophylactic (PrEP)
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PrEP a prevention method to help HIV-negative individuals reduce their risk of getting HIV by using anti-viral medications.
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PrEP involves taking a pill every day, such as the antiretroviral Truvada or Descovy.
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If on PrEP, follow-up and labs/bloodwork, including HIV/STI testing, will take place every 2-3 months at the doctor's office.
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PrEP takes 7 days to become effective for receptive anal sex (bottoming). For all other activities, including vaginal and insertive anal sex (beign on top), PrEP takes 21 days to be effective.
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PrEP is a prevention method to help HIV-negative individuals reduce their risk for getting HIV by using anti-retroviral medications.
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PrEP involves taking a single pill every day, such as the antiretrovirals Truvada (currently recommended for cis and trans men and women); Descovy (not for use in people assigned female at birth who are at risk of getting HIV from vaginal sex).
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Follow-up with your doctor, including bloodwork and HIV/STI testing, will take place every 2-3 months.
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PrEP takes about 7 days to become effective for receptive anal sex (bottom). For vaginal and insertive anal sex (top), PrEP take about 21 days to be effective.
PrEP
On Demand
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PrEP a prevention method to help HIV-negative individuals reduce their risk of getting HIV by using anti-viral medications.
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PrEP involves taking a pill every day, such as the antiretroviral Truvada or Descovy.
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If on PrEP, follow-up and labs/bloodwork, including HIV/STI testing, will take place every 2-3 months at the doctor's office.
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PrEP takes 7 days to become effective for receptive anal sex (bottoming). For all other activities, including vaginal and insertive anal sex (beign on top), PrEP takes 21 days to be effective.
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On-demand PrEP involves taking PrEP medication right before a sexual encounter/event instead of taking the medication every day. It is known as “intermittent,” “non-daily,” “event-driven,” or “off-label” PrEP use.
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“On-demand” PrEP is taken on a “2-1-1” schedule. This means taking 2 pills 2-24 hours before sex, 1 pill 24 hours after the first dose, and 1 pill 24 hours after the second dose.
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As of now, scientifc studies show that the “2-1-1” schedule is effective for gay, bisexual men, and men who have sex with men (MSM) when having anal sex without a condom.
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There are not enough studies available to show how “on-demand” PrEP works for heterosexual men and women, people who inject drugs, and transgender persons.
Post-exposure Prophylactic (PEP)
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PEP involves taking medication after possible exposure to HIV, such as condom-less sex, condom break, sexual assault, sharing injection equipment, or needlestick injury
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PEP MUST be taken within 72 hours from exposure and is taken every day for 28 days.
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PEP is used for emergency situations, consider PrEP for longtime use.
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Testing for HIV will take place before and after being on PEP.
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To access PEP, visit your local emergency room, use our HIV Services tool , or access our PEP Provider list to locate a PEP provider near you.
Condoms, Clean Syringes, Other Prevention Methods
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Other prevention methods can be used to effectively reduce contracting HIV.
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Use new, clean syringes and injection equipment every time you inject. If unable to do so, disinfecting or using bleach to clean your injection equipment can be as effective.
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Condoms help prevent HIV for higher risk sexual activities like anal or vaginal sex, and for lower risk activities, like oral sex and sharing sex toys.
HIV Undetectable=
Untransmittable
(U=U)
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Clinical evidence supports that people living with HIV who achieve and maintain a consistent undetectable viral load—the amount of HIV in the blood—by taking antiretroviral therapy (ART) daily as prescribed cannot sexually transmit the virus to others; thus, undetectable = untransmittable.
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U=U applies to transmission through sex only and does not protect against STIs.
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Although someone may be undetectable, they are still living with HIV; therefore, ART is still required daily to prevent transmission.