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2025 edition and access to HIV PrEP in the UK

This 2025 edition is very similar to the 2024 version. 

The main change is that the new UK guidelines for HIV PrEP are now published. 

  • Everyone who can benefit from oral HIV PrEP should now be able to get it. You no longer have to be at high risk. 
  • Everyone now has the option to quick-start PrEP using a double first dose (two pills), working within two hours.
  • Adherence to daily dosing doesn’t have to be so strict. Everyone taking four or more doses each week will still have very high levels of protection.
  • Event-based dosing can also now be used by everyone. This uses either 2:1:1 or 2:7 dosing.
  • New info covers starting and stopping PrEP and new versions of PrEP (TAF/FTC and injectable PrEP).
  • These changes are based on a review of over 150 new studies.
  • We include new links to information about HIV PEP and doxyPEP.
  • The text was also updated in October 2025 to include references to injectable PrEP throughout.

Getting oral and injectable PrEP in the UK

Oral PrEP is now available free from sexual health clinics across the UK. It can also still be bought online.

These sites have more information, including on how to find a sexual health clinic by postcode.

If a doctor does not want to prescribe you oral PrEP, please ask them why. If this is for a medical reason, they should explain this. Or they might not know about the new UK guidelines.

If you still cannot access PrEP, ask to speak to a more senior doctor. If there is still a problem please email i-Base.

See also: information about buying PrEP online from the UK.

Injectable PrEP using cabotegravir-LA (CAB-LA) was approved in England and Wales in October 2025 and in Scotland slightly earlier. This is only for about 1000 people each year who are not able to use oral PrEP.  CAB-LA is given by an injection into your buttock muscles every two months. Access is likely to become available from January 2026 onwards. Few details have been released about access yet.

Injectable PrEP using lenacapavir is not yet approved in the UK. It will be submitted to the UK medicines agency (called the MHRA) by the end of 2025. It is likely to then take another year before the NHS is able to prescribe it. Lenacapavir PrEP only involves an injection under the skin every six months.

PrEP and mpox (monkeypox)

Luckily, mpox is now only rarely reported in the UK. However, vaccination is still available and important.

PrEP will not protect against mpox.

Mpox vaccination is still recommended.

PrEP and COVID-19

Many PrEP clinics rearranged services because of COVID-19.

This might involve testing less frequently for HIV and STIs, and maybe longer prescriptions.

PrEP is still just as safe and effective.

This page was first published in August 2025 and was updated in October to include new information about injectable PrEP.

Last updated: 1 October 2025.