PrEP stands for pre-exposure prophylaxis. It is when someone takes medicines every day to lower his or her chances of getting HIV.
Only people at very high risk for getting HIV should take PrEP, such as:
PrEP prevents HIV transmission most — but not all — of the time. Besides taking the PrEP medicine every day, using a condom every time and for every form of sex (vaginal, oral, anal) can give even more protection from getting HIV.
No, PrEP does not protect people from getting other STDs. So, someone taking PrEP needs to use a condom every time and for every form of sex (vaginal, oral, anal) to lower the risk of getting other STDs.
A health care provider prescribes PrEP. The medicines must be taken every day to work. An HIV test is done when someone starts PrEP and every 3 months after that.
Reviewed by: Robyn R. Miller, MD
Date Reviewed: Jan 1, 2019