PrEP stands for “Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis” — a medication taken regularly as a way to block any HIV that enters the body from copying and establishing itself during the first few days after exposure.

PrEP is currently available as a pill. The brand you may be most familiar with is Truvada, however there are generic versions you can get from your local pharmacy. Currently, PrEP needs to be prescribed by a doctor or nurse practitioner, and requires you to check in with them every three months.

PrEP works by interfering with HIV’s ability to copy itself. This mainly happens in the small window of time when someone is first exposed, which is 1-3 days. That means that even if you’re exposed to HIV, it is unlikely to replicate and remain in your body.

PrEP only works if the medication stays in your body all the time, which you can guarantee by taking it every day. This is because the meds need to be in the anus, rectum, or vagina when exposure to HIV occurs, and the drugs need to continue to be there in the days afterwards to make sure the virus can’t make copies of itself and spread throughout the body to cause infection. Research suggests that consistently taking daily PrEP is the best way for it to be effective.

It is recommended to take PrEP around the same time each day. Lots of folks on PrEP set reminders on their phones or watches to make sure they stay in their routine. You’ll also need to check in with your doctor every three months to get tested for HIV, other STIs, to monitor if there are any reactions or side effects you could possibly be having from this medication, and talk about how your PrEP use is going.

Before using PrEP as an HIV prevention strategy for anal sex it needs to be taken everyday for one week for the drugs to reach maximum levels in the ass tissue. For protection in the front hole or vagina, it takes up to three weeks. While we don’t agree with the gendered language used throughout this article, CATIE has a thorough explanation of how HIV is transmitted in the vagina and why this changes the timeframe someone with a vagina would need to consider when taking PrEP.

Remember, PrEP only works for HIV – it won’t stop you from getting other STIs, which is why it’s recommended to try to combine PrEP with other strategies like condoms as much as possible. It’s also why it’s important for you to get tested for STIs every 3 months while you are on PrEP. One larger effect of taking PrEP is that it makes getting tested for STIs a part of a routine, meaning that it’s easier to diagnose and treat them early, breaking the chain of transmission so other folks don’t get it.

Like any drug, PrEP can have some side effects like stomach aches and nausea, but they usually go away. Part of being on PrEP involves getting regular bloodwork done to make sure your body isn’t having any harmful side effects, since it may affect bone density and kidney function. Some folks who take PrEP discuss using vitamins and supplements with their doctor as a way of addressing concerns about these side effects. If you’re on PrEP and you are concerned about side effects you are experiencing, it’s a good idea to talk to a doctor right away.

This section was adapted, with permission, from The Sex You Want Website.
*disclaimer: we do not necessarily endorse all of the information, content, or language used in these references

 

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