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PrEP for women – and translations

Why should women take PrEP?

  • PrEP can be used by anyone worried about the risk of HIV.
  • PrEP is a very effective way to stay HIV negative.

The highest risk of getting HIV is if you don’t always use condoms with partners who do not know that they might be HIV positive.

Or if a partner is not yet on HIV treatment (ART) or is not always taking their meds.

People living with HIV cannot pass on HIV if they have an undetectable viral load on ART.

Other reasons to consider PrEP

  • If you are worried about HIV.
  • If condom use is difficult or impossible to negotiate.
  • If you have sex for money, or receive gifts for sex.
  • If your partner or partners might be at risk of HIV. For example, if your partner has other partners. Or if you or your partner(s) inject drugs and share injecting equipment.

Oral dosing for women

The 2025 guidelines include new information about how women can take PrEP.

This includes:

  • Starting PrEP with a double dose (two pills) to become protected after only two hours.
  • Taking at least four doses a week will give high levels of protection.
  • Event-based dosing is now possible. Start with a double dose. Then take a single pill every day for seven days after you last had sex. This is called 2:7 dosing.
  • Some researchers think that 2:7 dosing is perhaps more pills than are needed and that fewer doses after sex would be okay, for example, 2:1:1:1 dosing. This is based on limited data though and isn’t yet included in guidelines.
  • Oral PrEP can also be taken every day if you want to do this.

Please see these links.

Injectable PrEP

CAB-LA

In October 2025, following NHS Scotland, NHS England approved limited access to injectable cabotegravir-LA (CAB-LA).

This is a long-acting version of PrEP that is given by injection every two months. It is a very effective way to use PrEP if you have difficulty taking pills.

The injections need to be given by a health worker into your buttock muscle.

Access to CAB-LA should start by January 2026. Please talk to your clinic to find out more information.

LENACAPAVIR

Lenacapavir (LEN) is another type of injectable PrEP which only needs to be given as two injections every six months.

It also needs to be given by a health worker but the injections are under the skin, usually on your choice of stomach, thigh or abdomen.

LEN PrEP is already approved in Europe and the US but has not yet been submitted to the UK medicines agency. This is expected before the end of 2025. This means it will not be available in the UK for at least another year.

Currently LEN PrEP is only available in the UK as part of the PURPOSE 5 study.

Contraception

It is very safe to use PrEP with all hormonal contraception (ring, patch, the pill, injectable or an implant).

PrEP will not affect your contraception. And contraception will not affect PrEP.

Pregnancy

If planning a pregnancy and not using barrier protection or condoms, daily PrEP can protect you from HIV.

But if you know that your partner is HIV positive, it is better for them to be on HIV treatment. If their viral load is undetectable, this will also protect you from HIV.

If you become pregnant while taking PrEP, continuing PrEP is still recommended but please also talk to your doctor.

Breastfeeding and chestfeeding

Oral PrEP is very safe if you breastfeed or chestfeed.

Outside the UK, many people living with HIV use the same meds as HIV treatment during breast and chest feeding.

Only very small amounts of FTC and TD are present in breast milk. These low levels are not harmful to your baby.

UK community websites on women and PrEP

PrEP for Women leaflets and translations

A separate leaflet was developed by Women for PrEP and the Sophia Forum. It is also available in the following languages as PDF files to download or view online.

However, they have not yet been updated to include the latest information on dosing.

For French and Portuguese printed leaflets, please contact Women for PrEP.

Last updated: 1 November 2025.