Are you PrEPed?

This is a question you might hear when you’re out and about- but what does it mean? What is PrEP? Who can use it? And most importantly where can you get it?

Being PrEPed up or on PrEP is a simple way of saying that, that person is taking a drug called PrEP (also known as Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis). Simply put PrEP is a drug that prevents the spread of HIV. If taken correctly it prevents the user from being infected with HIV. It is an incredibly safe drug to use, and it can free you from the worry of not knowing your partners HIV status. 

PrEP works by stopping the virus from being able to replicate its self inside the body. This means that even if you come into contact with the virus, you will be protected. It takes about 2 to 3 days to reach effective levels in men and about a week for women. 

There is several different ways to taking PrEP and depending on your circumstances there will be one that works for you. 

One a day, every day.

This way is the simplest and the most effective. You take a pill once a day everyday for as long as you need to. Think of it a bit like the contraceptive pill for HIV. It also means that if you accidently miss a dose, you are still covered for that period. 

Event based dosing

 EBD is when you know that you are likely to get lucky (wouldn’t that be a wonderful thing). You take 2 pills before the day you think you might come into contact with HIV, 1 pill the day of, and finally 1 pill the day after. This means that you’re only taking it for the period of time where you might be exposed. This way is not suitable for women. 

Holiday dosing

Similarly to EBD, holiday dosing is when you take 2 pills before the holiday, 1 pill for everyday you are away (enjoying yourself hopefully), and then one pill after the holiday is over. This way is only suitable for women if you begin taking PrEP a full week before going on holiday and maintaining it throughout the break. 

The T’s and S’s

The T’s and S’s method for PrEP is to take it on days that begin with T and S (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday). This is good for making your prescription last longer but does not offer the same level of protection as taking it everyday would do. It also means that if you miss one dose your level of protection will be affected. 

PrEP for Women.

Women can take PrEP. However, it takes longer for the drug to reach effective levels in women, and you therefore need to take it for the week prior to the risk of exposure. 

Trans and on PrEP?

PrEP has been shown to work very well alongside hormone therapy treatments and will not affect the protection provided by the pill. 

Where in the world can I get PrEP?

PrEP is available free on the NHS and is currently only available at Sexual Health Clinics, unless you self-source. If you go to a SHC they will ask you about your risk and other factors that might affect the likelihood of catching HIV. If your risk is considered high enough, then PrEP will be prescribed. You will also need to have an HIV test before starting to ensure you are free of the virus before beginning PrEP. 

  • Some of the risk factors include but are not limited to:
  • Having condomless sex
  • Bacterial infection in the last six months
  • Group sex
  • Chemsex
  • Sex in countries with high HIV prevalence
  • Sex with HIV positive partners
  • Sex with individuals who inject drugs

Use the following link to find a Sexual Health Clinic near you: https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/find-a-sexual-health-clinic/

You can also self-source from several different websites. This is a great way if you wish to remain anonymous but doesn’t come with the testing safety nets that the NHS and SHC provide.