Prep, or PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis), is a medication and prevention strategy for HIV that helps reduce an individual’s risk of contracting HIV. It is a daily pill taken by someone who is HIV-negative to help lower their risk of becoming infected with HIV. Prep is most effective when taken every day, and it should be taken in combination with other risk-reduction strategies, such as using condoms and limiting the number of sexual partners. Prep is not a substitute for condoms and is not recommended for people already infected with HIV.
Prep works by preventing HIV from entering and making copies of itself inside the body. It does this by blocking the virus’s ability to attach to and enter certain cells in the body. This helps to reduce the risk of HIV transmission when someone is exposed to the virus. When taken consistently and correctly, Prep can reduce the risk of HIV infection by up to 92-99%. It is most effective when taken every day, and it should be taken in combination with other risk-reduction strategies, such as using condoms and limiting the number of sexual partners.
It is important to note that Prep does not protect against other sexually transmitted infections, such as gonorrhea or chlamydia, and should not be used as a substitute for condoms.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020). Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP). Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/basics/prep.html
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2016). PrEP FAQs. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/risk/prep/faqs.html
