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. Seid •

    i exposed to hiv positive prostitute while taking pep I’m really worried about what will happen to me next. can you give me a better answer please?

  2. Simon Collins •

    Hi Richard, as with all PEP questions, this is already answered online here:
    https://i-base.info/qa/factsheets/pep-faq

  3. Richard •

    Good afternoon. I had unprotected sex with a lady who is positive and on ART.I started pep just after an hour of the act.on the 4th day I had unprotected sex with my wife at home.can it possible to infect my wife?

  4. Josh Peasegood •

    Hi Dood, what do you mean by having sex with caution?

    While on PEP is advised to abstain from sex until you can confirm your own HIV status.

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

  5. Dood •

    It’s my 15th day at Pep. I started having sex with caution. What’s the problem?

  6. Josh Peasegood •

    Hi Shashi, changing PEP is not going to have any impact on the course of treatment. As you have been taking it daily and started within 72 hours, this change of treatment is going to have no impact on how effective PEP is.

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

  7. Shashi •

    Hi am Shashi
    After meet with a girl, on 24th hour I took first pep tablet viropill and on 70th hour changed pep tablet to truvada drug….is changing pep drug without time gap effects pep effectiveness.

  8. Josh Peasegood •

    Hi Shashi, this is not a risk for HIV exposure.

    For more information about testing and transmission please see here: https://i-base.info/qa/factsheets/hiv-transmission-and-testing

    For more information about PEP please see here: https://i-base.info/qa/factsheets/pep-faq

  9. Shashi •

    I went to spa parler on Feb, 4th evening 5 pm, we had body to body massage. Some time I touched her vegina but not penetrated my fingers and with same fingers of my hand I touched my pennies .we both have hand jobs oposite sex .some times my pennies touched her vegina but not intercourse or didn’t penetrated . Immediately after handjob I washed my pennies with hot water . I asked her sex life , she said that she has intercourse with three different men’s earlier, than I got worried . Next day evening by 8 pm i taken my first pep tablet viropil.which means I started pep treatment on 27th hour of exposure. Is there chances of HIV transmission to me.

  10. Josh Peasegood •

    Hi Lee, a course of PEP is 28 days. Often 30 is given so you have 2 remaining to start the course again if you need to before you can access another course.

    Stopping earlier will not guarantee the same level of protection as taking it for the full 28 days. The evidence base for the last 7 days is not strong and it difference between efficacy of taking it for 21 days and 28 days is limited. However because it is recommended as a 28 day course it is not advised to finish earlier. Is there a reason you want to finish sooner?

    For more information about PEP please see here: https://i-base.info/qa/factsheets/pep-faq