If you're HIV-negative but at high risk, or if you may have been exposed to HIV in the last 72 hours, medications known as PrEP and PEP can reduce your chances of becoming infected with HIV.

About PrEP | About PEP

About PrEP

PrEP, or pre-exposure prophylaxis, is daily medicine that can reduce your chance of getting HIV.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), PrEP can reduce the risk of getting HIV from sex by more than 90%. Among people who inject drugs, it reduces the risk by more than 70%.

The CDC says PrEP may benefit you if you're HIV-negative and any of the following apply.

• You're a gay/bisexual man and:
  • have an HIV-positive partner
  • have multiple partners, a partner who has multiple other partners, or if your partner's HIV status is unknown and you also:
    • have anal sex without a condom; or
    • recently had a sexually transmitted infection

• You're heterosexual and:
  • have an HIV-positive partner
  • have multiple partners, a partner who has multiple other partners, or if your partner's HIV status is unknown and you also:
    • don't always use a condom for sex with people who inject drugs; or
    • don't always use a condom for sex with bisexual men

• You inject drugs and:
  • share needles or equipment to inject drugs
  • recently went to a drug treatment program
  • are at risk for getting HIV from sex

What to do

UHS providers can prescribe PrEP. Call UHS, (413) 577-5101 for an appointment with a provider to learn if PrEP is right for you.

If you take PrEP, you'll need to follow up with your provider every three months for repeat HIV tests and prescription refills. See your provider as soon as possible if you have any symptoms that become severe or don't go away.

Contact your insurance carrier to see if PrEP is covered. Learn more about paying for PrEP on the CDC website.

About PEP

PEP, or post-exposure prophylaxis, is medicine taken after you may have been exposed to HIV that can reduce your chances of becoming infected.

You can be exposed to HIV through contact with certain body fluids of an infected person, including blood, semen and vaginal fluids. This usually happens through vaginal or anal sex, or by sharing needles.

The CDC says PEP must be started within 72 hours after possible exposure. Talk with your healthcare provider or an emergency room provider right away – the sooner,  the better. If PEP is prescribed,  you'll need to take it once or twice daily for 28 days.

PEP is effective, but doesn't provide 100% protection. It  should only be used in emergency situations – not as a substitute for always using condoms or following safer injection practices. If you're at high risk for HIV, talk with a UHS provider about PrEP; call (413) 577-5101 for an appointment.