PrEP - Protecting yourself from HIV/AIDS - Factsheet

Sep 27, 2026

Uploaded by adawds

PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis) is an additional way to protect yourself from getting HIV/AIDS by taking a tablet once a day every day. The factsheet explains who PrEP is recommended for—people at high risk—and how well it works when taken consistently, including different timeframes for men who have sex with men and for women. It covers possible side effects, the need for kidney monitoring over long-term use, whether PrEP must be taken forever, pregnancy-related guidance, and safety with other medications. It also describes how to obtain PrEP through an experienced HIV doctor and how to get more information via NSW Sexual Health Info Link.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages1

Reading Time3 min

AccessFree to download

PrEP

What is PrEP?

Who is PrEP for?

How well does PrEP protect me from getting HIV?

How long do I have to take PrEP?

Does PrEP have side effects?

Are there any long-term side effects?

If I take PrEP do I have to take it forever?

Can I take PrEP if I am trying to get pregnant?

Can I take PrEP if I am taking other medications?

How can I get PrEP?

How can I get more information about PrEP?

PrEP Protecting yourself from HIV/AIDS There are different ways to protect yourself from getting HIV/ AIDS. Using condoms when you have sex is the most common way. This factsheet explains an extra way to protect yourself. It’s called PrEP. What is PrEP? Who is PrEP for? How well does PrEP protect me from getting HIV? How long do I have to take PrEP before I’m protected from getting HIV? Does PrEP have side effects? Are there any long-term side effects? If I take PrEP do I have to take it forever? Can I take PrEP if I am trying to get pregnant? Can I take PrEP if I am taking other medications? How can I get PrEP? What is PrEP? PrEP stands for Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis. This is a way of protecting yourself from getting HIV by taking a tablet once a day every day. PrEP does not prevent you from other infections that you can get when having sex, so it is still important to use condoms to be protected from these. BACK TO TOP Who is PrEP for? PrEP is recommended for people who are at high risk of getting HIV. You are at high risk if you: • Are a man who has anal sex with other men and do not always use a condom. • Have a heterosexual partner who has HIV and you want to have a baby. • Are someone whose partner has HIV, but is not taking HIV medication, and you don’t always use a condom. PrEP can help you to worry less about getting HIV. BACK TO TOP How well does PrEP protect me from getting HIV? PrEP works very well if you take it every day. You should try to take it at the same time each day. If you don’t take the tablets every day, you may not be as well protected against HIV. Your doctor can give you more information. BACK TO TOP How long do I have to take PrEP before I’m protected from getting HIV? This depends on the type of sex you are having. If you are a man who has sex with men, you will be protected after taking PrEP every day for 7 days. If you are a woman, you will need to take it every day for 20 days before you are protected. Your doctor can give you more information. BACK TO TOP Does PrEP have side effects? Not everyone will have side effects. Most people won’t have any. Side effects can include nausea, dizziness, headaches, tiredness, stomach cramps and diarrhoea. Usually, these stop after a few weeks. If they last longer you should see your doctor. BACK TO TOP Are there any long-term side effects? Most people who take PrEP do not have any serious problems. However, taking PrEP for a long time can affect your kidneys, soit’s important that these are checked. Your doctor will do a blood test every three months while you are taking PrEP to check this. BACK TO TOP If I take PrEP do I have to take it forever? No, you don’t. You can stop and start PrE P as your life and risk of getting HIV changes. You should only take PrEP during the times you are at high risk of getting HIV. For example: you might take PrEP when you are having a lot of different sexual partners or you are trying to have a baby. You can stop taking PrEP when that changes. BACK TO TOP Can I take PrEP if I am trying to get pregnant? Yes, you can. If you are trying to get pregnant and your partner has HIV, you can take PrEP to protect yourself and your baby from HIV. To be protected from HIV you must take PrEP every day for 20 days before you and your partner have sex without a condom. You must take it every day while you are trying to get pregnant and keep taking PrEP for 30 days after the last time you have sex without a condom. Taking PrEP will not stop you from getting pregnant. If you are a woman with HIV and your partner does not have HIV, your partner can take PrEP to protect himself when you have sex without a condom. Your doctor can give you more information. BACK TO TOP Can I take PrEP if I am taking other medications? Yes. It’s usually safe to take PrEP and other medications at the same time, but you should always check with your doctor. BACK T

FAQs

What is PrEP and how is it taken?

PrEP stands for Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis. It protects you from getting HIV by taking a tablet once a day every day.

Who is PrEP recommended for?

PrEP is recommended for people at high risk of getting HIV, including people who do not always use condoms in certain sexual situations and partners who have HIV but are not taking HIV medication.

How long do I need to take PrEP before it protects me from HIV?

For men who have sex with men, protection is after taking PrEP every day for 7 days. For women, protection is after taking it every day for 20 days.

Sep 27, 2026

Uploaded by adawds