What is PrEP?

PrEP stands for Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis. 

PrEP is a pill taken before sex, so it is pre-exposure. Prophylaxis means to prevent infection. So you can use PrEP to greatly reduce the risk of becoming HIV positive.

Currently, PrEP uses oral tablets that contain two HIV drugs: usually tenofovir disoproxil (TD) plus emtricitabine (FTC).

A new version of PrEP that uses tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) instead of TD is approved in the US. So far, this is only for men and trans women. A generic version of TAF/FTC can be brought online.

Other types of PrEP are being studied but are not yet approved.

This includes an injection every two months (cabotegravir), an implant that might last for a year (islatravir), and an oral pill that might only need to be taken once a month (islatravir).

Last updated: 1 June 2021.