HIV prevention and support

What is PrEP?

The information on this page is about oral PrEP (the form of PrEP that comes as pills)

PrEP stands for Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis

PrEP is a medication which stops you getting HIV. Someone who is HIV negative can take PrEP as a pill to protect themself from HIV.

PrEP is extremely effective at stopping HIV when taken correctly

PrEP is available free on the NHS. It can be prescribed confidentially without your GP or others knowing.

How does PrEP work?

When PrEP is taken correctly by someone who is HIV-negative before sex or other exposure, it blocks HIV if it gets into your body, before it has chance to multiply and take hold.

Who can use PrEP?

PrEP is for people who are HIV-negative and want to protect themselves from HIV infection.

• PrEP is safe to take for people taking gender-affirming hormones.
• PrEP is safe to take for people taking the contraceptive pill.
• PrEP is safe to use if you drink alcohol or take recreational drugs
• PrEP can be used if you inject drugs

What do you need to do before you take PrEP?

• Have a HIV test to confirm that you are HIV-negative.
• Have a kidney function test (blood sample) to check the health of your kidneys
• Both of these tests can be done at your regular sexual health clinic

How do I take my oral PrEP?

• Daily: This is how most people prefer to take their oral PrEP and is the most straightforward way and gives you the protection all of the time when taken consistently.
• On demand: Some people prefer to take their oral PrEP on demand – only around the time they plan to have sex.

It’s important to choose the way you take your oral PrEP that is best for you to ensure that it works properly. You can talk confidentially to our sexual health outreach team to be sure that the way you take your oral PrEP is right for you and your lifestyle.

Contact Birmingham LGBT’s sexual health team by phoning  0121 643 0821 or 07549 269194

If you are considering taking oral PrEP on demand, then this  guidance may help you to decide:

• Oral PrEP taken around the time of planned sex means taking two tablets between 2 and 24 hours before sex, followed by one tablet a day for the following two days.  If sex is continued over a longer period of time, continue taking one tablet daily, until TWO days after the last time you had sex.
• If risk is through receptive anal sex (bottoming), oral PrEP must be started with two tablets taken between 2 and 24 hours before having sex, and continued with one tablet  daily for TWO days after the last risk.
• If risk is through insertive neo/vaginal or anal sex (topping), oral PrEP must be started with two tablets taken between 2 and 24 hours before risk, and continued with a single dose daily for TWO days after the last risk.
• If the risk is through receptive neo/vaginal sex, oral PrEP must be started with two tablets taken between 2 and 24 hours before risk and continued with a single dose daily for SEVEN days after the last risk.
• If the risk is through injecting drug use, oral PrEP must be started with two tablets taken between 2 and 24 hours before risk, and continued with a single tablet daily for SEVEN days after the last risk.

How safe is PrEP?

The drugs used in PrEP are the same drugs used by thousands of people living with HIV. They are very safe and have no serious side-effects. A small number of people may experience nausea, headaches or tiredness, which usually passes in between a week to a month.

What about other sexually transmitted infections (STIs)?

Research has shown that PrEP is highly effective at preventing HIV as long as it is taken as directed. Unlike condoms, PrEP will not protect you from other STIs.

Where do I get PrEP?

PrEP is available free on the NHS. Contact Birmingham LGBT’s sexual health outreach team for more information or our partners Umbrella Health www.umbrellahealth.co.uk

Some people also order their PrEP online. You can find more information about this at: www.IwantPrEPnow.co.uk