Q and A

Question

I have started PEP and want to know if I will be okay?

28 November 2010. Related: PEP/PEPSE, Side effects.

I had sex with a transexual man. I was on top and without me realizing the condom had ruptured, I washed myself and went home. But I did not feel comfortable. So I sent a text asking the man I had just had sex with if he was HIV positive, to which he answered, yes. I freaked out and went inmediately to the internet and did some research. I read about PEP, so the next morning I went to the clinic and I was placed on – Truvada 200 mg, Norvir 100 mg and Reyataz 300 mg. This was 36 hours after the incident.

I have had no side effects. But for the last two days, I have felt as if I have some fever. I tested my temperature and it is within the normal parameters of 98.2 and 98.7. Please tell me do I have a shot to be well? The person I had sex with told me that his viral count is below 40. Please help.

Answer

Answer: Winnie Sseruma

Thank you for your question.

I am sorry to know that you are distressed. What is important is that you have taken the right steps to giving yourself a chance of remaining  uninfected. PEP is effective the earlier that you take it and should be taken within 72 hours of being exposed to HIV. You started PEP within that time frame.

Additionally, as the person who you had sex with is on treatment with an undetectable viral load, then your chances of an HIV infection are much more reduced than if that person was not on treatment.

If you take the PEP as prescribed this will reduce the small chance that you were exposed to HIV.

Symptoms do not occur this soon after an exposure.

Good luck.

219 comments

  1. Simon Collins •

    Hi Sal, please see the link here are PEP:
    https://i-base.info/qa/factsheets/pep-faq

    This service doesn’t answer individual Q on PEP that are answered at this link.

  2. Sai •

    Question. So if I’m taking PEP and midway through I had second exposure. I know that I do not need to extend the PEP course but what about the testing timeline? When should I get tested?

  3. Simon Collins •

    Hi Tinashe, changing the container is fine but please include everything that comes in the bottle, including anything that helps absorb any moisture. This question is also included in this factsheet about PEP:
    https://i-base.info/qa/factsheets/pep-faq

  4. Tinashe •

    Hello I would like to know that is changing the container of pep medicine has any effects on them

  5. Simon Collins •

    Hi Gg, although STIs are very to catch, HIV is a much lower risk. You are much more likely to still be HIV negative, but it i also important to test in order to be sure. Please also talk to your doctor about PrEP:
    https://i-base.info/uk-guide-to-prep-february-2024/

  6. Gg •

    Hi..got exposed on Saturday then got pep after 31 hours …didn’t do any std check ups or anything.after day 17 got sti or std (yellow urine and sperm …abdominal pain) what are my chances of getting negative results Even though is had std or sti

  7. Josh Peasegood •

    Hi Berno, please see here for information about transmission: https://i-base.info/qa/factsheets/hiv-transmission-and-testing

  8. berno •

    hello,

    Might I get hiv if the top person was positive but didn’t ejaculate?

  9. Josh Peasegood •

    Hi Seid, while taking PEP you are protected from further exposures. As long as you still have 2 days of PEP remaining after this exposure, you are protected.

    In this case PEP will work like PrEP.

    More information about PEP can be found here: https://i-base.info/qa/factsheets/pep-faq