Question

I am taking PEP, can I have uprotected sex?

14 February 2012. Related: All topics, PEP/PEPSE.

I’ve been taking lamzid for 5 days now and I want to find out how this will
affect my pregnant partner when we have unprotected sex?

I am taking lamzid because I slept with someone without a condom and I felt
very unsafe so I went to the doctor within 72 hours and he prescribed lamzid for me.

My pregnant partner is only 7weeks pregnant will this harm our baby?

Answer

Answer: Angelina Namiba

There is no data on whether PEP can harm the unborn baby. However, unprotected sex whilst you are taking PEP is not recommended. This is because you don’t know your status and you could infect your partner. That is why it is important to wait until you finish the course and have done the follow-up confirmatory test.

For more information on PEP this link:
https://i-base.info/qa/factsheets/pep-faq

Best wishes

481 comments

  1. Cee •

    I have 5 days left of my pep treatment, but I had unprotected sex with a partner who’s status was unclear to me 3 days ago, should I ask my provider for my treatment to be extended?

  2. Josh Peasegood •

    Hi John, as you had used a condom there will be no further risk.

    Being on PEP means you are both protected from any further transmission risk.

  3. John •

    Hello Josh,
    I was on PEP. It was day 21. But I had a protected sex with someone else (used condom). What is the risk of both of us will get? If i am negative (expected), will i get another exposure as I gave him oral sex BUT i used condom for anal sex. Will he be at risk or not as we used condom?

  4. Josh Peasegood •

    Hi Rossy, please speak with your doctor before stopping PEP.

    As your partner has now tested negative there is little to no risk of transmission. In these cases PEP would not be needed.

  5. Rossy •

    Can one stop taking pep after confirming the partner’s status?

  6. Josh Peasegood •

    Hi Madhu, sorry for any confusion. It isn’t a recommendation to have sex while on PEP. This is because you are unsure of your own status. However, in these cases PEP will suppress any viral load present meaning HIV cannot have a high enough load in the body to be passed onto someone else.

    PEP will work like regular treatment (as they are often the same classes of drug) to suppress HIV and prevent the viral load becoming detectable.

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

  7. Madhu •

    Hi Josh Peasegood,
    Sometimes you say it’s okay to have unprotected sex while on PEP with one’s spouse but other times you say it’s not advisable since the individual on PEP might pass HIV virus to wife even while on PEP! What does evidence based data say?
    Can man who has been exposed to potential HIV due to condom break and started PEP within 72hours still have unprotected sex with his wife since he cannot disclose to her the details? What are the chances he could be passing the virus onto her?

  8. Josh Peasegood •

    Hi Alex, no you do not need to worry about HIV.

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

  9. Alex •

    if I cut my finger with razor bland for some but am on pep should I warry about HIV

  10. Josh Peasegood •

    Hi Peter, no you do not need to take additional PEP. As you had already been on PEP this treatment will work to prevent HIV from this second exposure. You can complete your course of PEP after the original 28 days. There is no requirement for you to extend the course.

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