About Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP)
- PrEP is a way for people at substantial risk of getting HIV to prevent HIV by taking a pill every day. The pill contains two medicines; tenofovir and emtricitabine (brand name Truvada). When someone is exposed to HIV through sex or injection drug use, these medicines can work to keep the virus from establishing a permanent infection.
- When taken consistently, PrEP has been shown to reduce the risk of HIV infection in people who are at high risk by up to 92%. PrEP is much less effective if it is not taken consistently.
- PrEP might be a good choice for you if:
- You use injection drugs
- You've had a Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) in the past 6 months
- Your partner lives with HIV
- Your partner uses injection drugs
- Your partner's HIV status is unknown
Level of Protection
PrEP only protects against HIV. It does not protect you from other STDs, including chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis. Condom use is recommended to protect against other STDs.
PrEP is a powerful HIV prevention tool and can be combined with condoms and other prevention methods to provide even greater protection than when used alone.
About PrEP Services
- Doctor visits, labs, and case management assistance are free.
- HIV testing needs to be done every 3 months, so you will need to be seen in clinic every 3 months.
- Insurance covers the cost of medication (Truvada), and there are programs available that will cover the cost of medication if you don't have insurance or have a high co-pay fee.
Last Reviewed: 8/16/2023