What is PrEP?

PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) is medicine that reduces your chances of getting HIV from sex or injection drug use. When taken as prescribed, PrEP is highly effective for preventing HIV.

Are there different types of PrEP?

PrEP can be pills or shots/injections.

There are two pills approved for use as PrEP: Truvada® and Descovy®.

• Truvada® (now available as a less costly generic) is for all people at risk through sex or injection drug use. 
• Descovy® is for people at risk through sex. Descovy is not for people assigned female at birth who are at risk for HIV through receptive vaginal sex.
• Apretude® is the only shot/injection approved for use as PrEP. Apretude is for all people at risk through sex who weigh at least 77 pounds (35 kg).

Can I switch from pills to shots?

Talk to your health care provider about switching from PrEP pills to shots. PrEP shots may be right for you if you do not have HIV and have no known allergy to the medicines in the shot.

If you decide to switch from PrEP pills to shots, you’ll need to visit your health care provider regularly to receive your shot on a specific target date but do have a few days before and after to help make it convenient to you. You’ll also need to be tested for HIV prior to each PrEP shot.

Is PrEP safe?

• PrEP is very 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.
• Learn more about side effects from Truvada®, Descovy®, and Apretude®.

Is PrEP right for me?

PrEP can help protect you if you don’t have HIV and any of the following apply to you:

You have had anal or vaginal sex in the past 6 months and you

• have a sexual partner with HIV (especially if the partner has an unknown or detectable viral load)
• have not consistently used a condom
• have been diagnosed with a sexually transmitted disease in the past 6 months
• use Intravenous drugs (IVDU), or
• use drugs with sex

Can I take PrEP during pregnancy or while breastfeeding?

If you have a partner with HIV and are considering getting pregnant, talk to your health care provider about PrEP if you’re not already taking it. PrEP is absolutely an option to help protect you and your baby from getting HIV while you try to get pregnant, during pregnancy, or while breastfeeding.

Can adolescents take PrEP?

Yes. PrEP pills are approved for use by adolescents without HIV who weigh at least 77 pounds (35 kg) and at risk for getting HIV from sex or injection drug use. PrEP shots are approved for adolescents at risk for getting HIV from sex.  It is never too early to talk to your healthcare provider about sexual health as one of the highest new HIV diagnosed age groups are 13-25 years old.