What is PrEP?
PrEP is a drug taken by HIV-negative people before and after sex that reduces the risk of getting HIV.
The medication used for PrEP is a tablet which contains tenofovir and emtricitabine, which are drugs commonly used to treat HIV. Taking these drugs means that there is enough of the medication in your system to block HIV if it gets into your body.
Although PrEP protects against HIV, it doesn’t protect you from other sexually transmitted infections.
It’s best to use PrEP as well as condoms, to help prevent HIV as well as other STIs.
You can find out more about PrEP on the Terrence Higgins Trust website.
Where can I get PrEP?
PrEP is available free on the NHS in England from sexual health clinics.
Call our team on 0808 178 0955 (Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire and Telford & Wrekin) or 0300 404 2996 (Shropshire) to ask for further information about PrEP. You can see a list of our sexual health clinics on our Clinics page, although some smaller clinics may not offer PrEP services.
Should I take PrEP?
You may benefit from taking PrEP if:
- you’re a HIV-negative man having condomless sex with men, and other people who have sex within these networks
- you have a partner (or ex-partner) with HIV who is not yet on medication or not taking medication reliably
- your partner (or ex-partner) comes from a country with high rates of HIV
- you have condomless sex with a partner(s) and do not know their HIV status
- you’re a trans or non-binary person and are regularly having condomless sex
- you exchange sex for money, drugs, shelter or another reason
- you are injecting drugs
What is PEP?
PEP stands for post-exposure prophylaxis. The term PEPSE is sometimes used too, which stands for post-exposure prophylaxis following sexual exposure.
PEP is a combination of HIV drugs that can stop the HIV virus taking hold. It can be used after the event if you’ve been at risk of HIV transmission.
To work, PEP must be taken within 72 hours (three days) of the possible HIV exposure, and ideally should be taken within 24 hours.
PEP is an emergency measure to be used as a last resort. It is not guaranteed to work and taking PEP will not protect you from other sexually transmitted infections.
Where can I get PEP?
PEP is free from sexual health clinics, as well as at the A&E Department in hospitals.
The clinician you see may ask you questions about the type of sex you had, sexual partners and, if your partner is HIV positive, their viral load, to determine the need for PEP.