Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) for Preventing HIV ?

What is pre-exposure prophylaxis?

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (or PrEP) is when people at high risk for HIV take HIV medicines daily to lower their chances of getting infected.

What we know about PrEP:

Three pill bottles with different medications

PrEP is also recommended for people who've injected drugs in the past 6 months and have shared needles or works or been in drug treatment in the past 6 months.

Because PrEP involves daily medication and regular visits to a health care provider, it may not be right for everyone. And PrEP can cause side effects like nausea in some people, but these generally subside over time. These side effects aren't life threatening.

What you can do

Additional Resources

Learn the relative risk of different sexual activities, and how some factors can increase or decrease the risk of getting or transmitting HIV.

Learn about the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's HIV prevention campaigns:

Act Against AIDS: Encouraging all Americans to learn more about HIV/AIDS.

HIV Treatment Works: Encouraging people living with HIV to get in care, stay in care, and live well.

Start Talking. Stop HIV.: Encouraging gay and bisexual men to have conversations about safer sex.