What is PrEP?
PrEP is used by people who are HIV negative to help prevent them from getting HIV. PrEP stands for pre-exposure prophylaxis. It involves taking a prescription pill that contains two medications. It is very important to take the pill as prescribed for it to work.
What else should I know?
- It works! It is extremely rare to get HIV if PrEP is used correctly.
- You have to be HIV negative to take PrEP.
- You need to have an HIV test before starting PrEP.
- PrEP is an option for anyone at high risk for HIV.
- Most people on PrEP take one pill every day.
- Taking PrEP involves regular medical appointments for monitoring and support.
- It is safe and usually well-tolerated.
- It is approved by Health Canada and is prescribed by a healthcare provider.
- The cost may be covered by your private or public drug plan.
How do I know if PrEP might be right for me?
Some simple questions can help guide you through thinking about whether PrEP might be right for you.
- Do you sometimes have sex without condoms?
- Do you have sex partner(s) whose HIV status you don’t know?
- Do you have sex partner(s) who are HIV positive but are not on successful treatment?
- Have you had a sexually transmitted infection (STI) in the past year?
- Have you used post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) more than once?
- Are you thinking about having a baby with an HIV positive partner who is not on successful treatment?
- Do you ever share equipment for injection drug use?
If you answered yes to one or more of these questions, you might be a good candidate for PrEP.
Talk to a healthcare provider to help you make the final decision about whether PrEP is right for you. PrEP is relatively new so you may prefer to find a healthcare provider who is knowledgeable about PrEP.