The medication used in PrEP is available both as branded medication (Truvada, and Descovy) as well as generic medications (emtricitabine/tenoforvir), and is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for daily use for people at high risk of contracting HIV. These medicines prevent the virus from replicating itself and spreading throughout the body.

Several PrEP studies have shown that the risk of getting HIV infection was up to 99% lower for those who took PrEP once a day compared to those who didn’t take it. Keep in mind that it’s essential to take PrEP every day to maintain its effectiveness. It’s much less effective if it’s not taken daily.

PrEP is usually well tolerated with very few side effects. Mild side effects can include upset stomach, headaches and weight loss. Rare side effects may include kidney or bone problems. The blood tests and physical examination we conduct during your first appointment will give us a better idea of how well your body will respond to PREP. If you have any other concerns about potential side effects our health care provider will be able to answer questions you may have.

Condom use is still strongly recommended because PrEP won’t give you any protection against other STDs such as gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, genital herpes, and human papilloma virus. While taking PrEP daily can reduce your risk of HIV infection by up to 99%, you should combine additional strategies like condom use with PrEP to reduce your risk of getting infected with other STDs or to prevent pregnancy.

Yes, we can help you pay for PrEP. If you don’t have insurance, our insurance specialists at St. Thomas will give you more information about financial assistance programs available for PrEP, including co-pay assistance and plans that even pay 100%.

PrEP is for people who are HIV-negative and at high risk for HIV infection, including:

• Anyone who is in a continuous relationship with an HIV-positive person
• Anyone who is not in a mutually monogamous relationship with a partner who recently tested HIV-negative
• Gay or bisexual men who have had anal sex without a condom or been diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection within the past 6 months
• Men who have sex with both men and women
• Heterosexual men or women who do not regularly use condoms during sex with partners of unknown HIV status
• Women who have bisexual male partners
• Injection drugs users or their partners

When taking PrEP daily, it reaches maximum protection from HIV for receptive anal sex at about 7 days. For other activities, such as insertive anal sex, vaginal sex, and injection drug use, PrEP reaches maximum effectiveness at about 20 days of daily use.