FAQs

PrEP can help protect you if you don’t have HIV and you have a sexual partner with HIV or you use injectable drugs and share needles, syringes, or other injection equipment.

PEP is medication that prevents HIV after a possible exposure. PEP must be started within 72 hours (3 days) after a recent possible exposure to HIV. Contact your doctor or pharmacist right away if you think you have been exposed to HIV during sex, through sharing needles or other injection equipment, or if you have been sexually assaulted. The sooner you start PEP, the better it works at preventing HIV.

Before starting PrEP, you should make sure you are HIV negative. This can be done with a finger stick or blood draw. The pharmacist may also need to check your kidney function or see if you are pregnant to make sure PrEP medication is safe for you. Other tests might be recommended, like a blood or urine test to check for other STIs (sexually transmitted infections) or viral hepatitis.

No. PrEP and PEP only work to reduce your chances of contracting HIV. Condoms can help prevent other STIs and pregnancy. If you are worried about other STIs, contact your doctor or pharmacist. You can find STI testing near you at https://gettested.cdc.gov/

• Some states have PrEP and PEP Assistance Programs that can help with the cost of office visits, lab fees, and medication copays. Learn more here: https://nastad.org/prepcost-resources/prep-assistance-programs
• Some PrEP or PEP manufacturers have copay assistance programs that can help you afford PrEP and PEP medications. Learn more at these links:
  • https://www.gileadadvancingaccess.com/
  • https://www.viivconnect.com/