DISCLAIMER: For more detailed information about HIV prevention, visit www.cdc.gov/hiv or www.cdc.gov/stophivtogether/treatment.
HIV is a persistent problem in the United States. However, significant advancements have been made to prevent HIV. This blog post will explore two means of HIV prevention known as PEP and PrEP.
PEP
What is PEP?
PEP stands for Post-Exposure Prophylaxis. PEP is an oral medication to prevent HIV after possible exposure. PEP must be started within 72 hours, or three days, after possible exposure to HIV. The sooner your start PEP, the better. Every hour counts! If prescribed PEP, you will need to take it daily for 28 days.
Who is PEP for?
PEP is for people possibly exposed to HIV in the past 72 hours. It is imperative that you talk to your health care provider, an urgent care provider, or an emergency room doctor about PEP if you think you’ve been exposed to HIV through:
Sexual intercourse where the condom broke or a condom wasn’t used,
Sharing needles, syringes, or other drug injecting equipment (ex., cookers),
Sexual assault.
PEP is not intended to be used as a standard preventive method. It is for emergencies.
How effective is PEP?
PEP is highly effective in preventing HIV if taken within 72 hours after possible exposure. To be safe and protect your partners while taking PEP, use condoms during sex and do not share needles, syringes, or other drug injecting equipment.
PrEP
What is PrEP?
PrEP stands for Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis. PrEP is an oral medication for people at risk for HIV. Currently, there are two medications approved to use as PrEP: Truvada and Descovy.
Who is PrEP for?
PrEP is for HIV-negative people who are at risk for HIV. PrEP may be right for you if you :
Have a sexual partner with HIV
Have a sexual partner at risk for HIV (e.g., if they have unprotected sex with other people, or are injection drug user)
Have not consistently used a condom during sex
Have been diagnosed with an STD in the past 6 months
Have taken PEP multiple times
Inject drugs and share needles, syringes, and other drug injecting equipment
Engage in sex work
You can also take PrEP if you are a woman with a partner who has HIV and considering getting pregnant. PrEP is also approved for adolescents without HIV, who are at least 75 pounds, and are at risk for HIV from sex or injection drug use.
How effective is PrEP?
When taken as prescribed, PrEP reduces the risk of contracting HIV from sex by about 99%. PrEP reduces the risk of contracting HIV from injection drug use by at least 74%. PrEP is much less effective when not taken as prescribed. [1] According to the CDC:
For receptive anal sex, PrEP reaches maximum protection from HIV at approximately 7 days of daily use.
For receptive vaginal sex and injection drug use, PrEP reaches maximum protection from HIV at approximately 21 days of daily use.
At the moment, there is no data for effectiveness in insertive anal sex (top) or insertive vaginal sex.
NOTE: Receptive refers to the act of being penetrated. Insertive refers to the act of penetration.
It is essential that you take PrEP as prescribed to work effectively. If you do not take PrEP as prescribed, your bloodstream might not have enough medication to block the virus. The right amount of medication in your bloodstream can prevent HIV from grasping and spreading in your body.
How can I pay for PEP or PrEP?
To find resources that will cover the costs of PEP and PrEP, visit pleaseprepme.org.
Download the "PEP and PrEP 101" information sheet!
Stephanie Paz is a Master of Public Health student in Health Behavior and Health Promotion at New Mexico State University.She holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from The University of Texas at El Paso.
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