PEP stands for post-exposure prophylaxis. It’s like emergency contraception but for HIV, because it can prevent you from becoming HIV-positive when taken after a potential sexual exposure to HIV. It’s a 28-day medication regimen involving the same drug used as PrEP plus another HIV treatment drug. It must be started within 72 hours of the potential HIV exposure, and is most effective when started as soon as possible, ideally within the first 24 hours. We prescribe it for free, like all our services.
If you are taking PrEP every day as prescribed and have waited for it to reach full efficacy in your system, you already have a maximum level of protection from HIV, so you would not need to start PEP if you were potentially sexually exposed to HIV. If you have missed a lot of doses of PrEP and then have a potential sexual exposure to HIV, it’s worth reaching out to your PrEP provider to find out whether they think you need to start PEP.”
“Can a person with HIV on treatment