PrEP stands for pre-exposure prophylaxis. It is the use of medication to prevent HIV infection. PrEP is used by HIV-negative people who are at risk of being exposed to HIV through sexual contact or injection drug use.
PrEP stands for pre-exposure prophylaxis. It is the use of medication to prevent HIV infection. PrEP is used by HIV-negative people who are at risk of being exposed to HIV through sexual contact or injection drug use.
PrEP is taken one-time a day by mouth. Taking PrEP also requires talking about reducing HIV risk with an HIV testing counselor and getting tested for HIV and STDs every three months. Also, because PrEP only protects against HIV, condom use is recommended to protect against other STDs (chlamydia, syphilis, gonorrhea, etc.).
PrEP may be for women who meet any of the following criteria:
Adherence is important for women and all patients on PrEP. Studies show that excellent adherence for women (taking PrEP 6 days out of the week) is critical in order to reach protective levels in cervical and vaginal tissue.
Studies suggest that women need to take PrEP for:
Yes, Truvada as PrEP is safe and well-tolerated for women.
No, current studies show that PrEP does NOT affect hormone-based birth control.
Currently, there is no evidence to show that PrEP will interfere with estrogens in hormone therapy. However, more research is needed to better understand the relationship between taking estrogens and PrEP.
Yes, women can take PrEP when attempting to get pregnant and/or during pregnancy. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends PrEP as an option to reduce the risk of HIV from an HIV-positive male partner during conception. The CDC also recommends that women with ongoing risk of HIV continue PrEP throughout her pregnancy and breastfeeding to protect herself and her infant.
Yes, PrEP is safe to use while breastfeeding. No negative side effects have been found among infants exposed to PrEP when the medication was taken as part of the treatment for women living with HIV during pregnancy or during breastfeeding. Studies show that infants are exposed to very small amounts of PrEP during breastfeeding. However, no long-term safety studies have been done to determine the long-term health effects.
Any licensed medical doctor, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant can prescribe PrEP. Specialization in HIV Medicine or Infectious Disease is NOT required.