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
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.
Hi Mercy,
I’m so sorry to hear this story. Is it possible for you to go and see the doctor? It sounds like you need support to cope with this terrible event.
But HIV is generally not easy to transmit. Talking to the doctor about what happened can help find out about the risk of HIV. It sounds good though that he didn’t penetrate. It might be good too if he didn’t cum.
What country do you live in? There could be local organisation that can give you support.
Some one tried to rape me but he failed, he tried to penetrate but he didn’t but he rabbed is penis on my vagina while i was doing my periods, now my fear is that are there chances of me contracting HIV? am really scared, it happened two days ago, can i be on pep?
Hi Eric,
Please see this i-Base resource about PEP. You can also look at our FAQs from this link.
I had a genital ulcer that was almost healing and had intercourse with a lady who i later came to learn she is hiv positive. i started PEP on the 38th hour…i am still on the medication, what are the likelihood that the medication will work…?
Hi Dipuo,
After 28 days of PEP you can take another HIV test to see if it has worked. You can talk to the doctor about your risk. If the person has an undetectable viral load the risk can be zero.
I had sex with a hiv person and he is on med and i went to a clinic within 10 hours they prescribed me tenemine so i have finished my med so am afraid to test now
Hi Anonymous,
It’s great that your guy was taking Odimune because that can stop HIV transmission. Please see U=U here.
It is also very common for someone to still be negative even if they have not been using condoms with someone who is HIV positive. Please see this similar Q&A.
You can also have another HIV test, about three months after your last test, to confirm your result.
I had unprotected sex with this guy for three months without knowing that he is on odimune pills,he never told me until I found out myself and when I ask him he says the doctor prescribed that for him because he couldn’t sleep so he needed something strong so that it can drug him then have peaceful sleep…I tried to believe him then I went to clinic and got tested my results were negative but they told me that those are ARV’S they are taken by hiv positive people so I’m worried and stressed and always thinking about it and I have sleepless night and we broke up is there a possibility that I might be infected or maybe it will appear in future please help desperate to know and so curious #Broken
Hi Tari,
Starting PEP that early has a high success rate. You’ll need to take the meds for 28 days and test.
I agree but my issue is that l had sex with a man and condom rapture and l started taking pep 21hours after inteevourse. The man agreed on self testing and he is positive. The doctor gave a prescription of two drugs is this enough