PrEP

PREP TO PREVENT HIV INFECTION

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a once-a-day pill that can dramatically reduce the risk of acquiring HIV. Studies have shown that PrEP, when used as prescribed, can reduce the risk of HIV infection by 92 percent or more. The pill is manufactured under the brand name Truvada. Patients take a single pill every day and must schedule regular check-ups with a health care provider every three months. PrEP is not a “chemical condom,” it is only effective against HIV and does not reduce the risk of other viral and bacterial infections or prevent unwanted pregnancies.

PREP REFERRAL FORM

UAF staff will use the information you enter in this form to facilitate referral services to qualified medical providers and financial assistance programs for PrEP. The information collected will only be made available to the HIV Prevention Team at the Utah AIDS Foundation. All information is confidential and secured by HTTPS encryption.

Complete the PrEP Form

Educate Your Doctor

If you already have a doctor, download this letter and give it to your doctor. It contains links for Continuing Medical Education and scholarly articles about PrEP designed for healthcare professionals.

pdf Doctors Letter 

What You Need to Know About PrEP

  • PrEP should not be used as the only line of defense against HIV. It is most effective when used in combination with regular HIV testing, condoms, and other proven prevention methods like reducing sexual partners, lubrication, and non-penetrative sex.
  • PrEP should only be used among individuals who have been confirmed to be HIV negative through an HIV test one month from the last time they had oral, vaginal, anal sex, and/or shared needles to inject any substance.
  • Anyone taking PrEP as part of a prevention plan should be tested every three to six months for HIV. Screening for STI’s should occur more often depending on risk behaviors, the presence of symptoms, and number of sexual partners.
  • PrEP must be obtained and used in close collaboration with a healthcare provider. Taking HIV medications without a prescription, in the wrong combination or dosage, and taking HIV medication belonging to someone else may pose a risk to your health.
  • Never use HIV medication prescribed to another person. Doing so can pose a health risk to you, may increase your risk for HIV, and can compromise the health of the person whose medication you are taking.
  • Taking PrEP daily is critical. The drug is most effective when taken as prescribed. Taking PrEP immediately before a sexual encounter will NOT protect against HIV infection.
  • PrEP is not for everyone; always consult a doctor before using it.
  • Most insurance providers cover the cost of PrEP. However, we encourage you to review your insurance plan before seeking a prescription for PrEP. If you cannot afford PrEP, Gilead Pharmaceuticals offers a patient assistance program (PAP) which may reduce the cost of the medication. For information regarding the PAP contact the Utah AIDS Foundation or Gilead.

Who might benefit from PrEP?

PrEP has been tested with men who have sex with men, transgender women who have sex with men, and heterosexual women. PrEP may be a useful addition to an HIV prevention strategy for people who:

  • Are in an ongoing relationship with an HIV-infected partner;
  • Are not in a mutually monogamous relationship with a partner who recently tested HIV-negative; and is a gay or bisexual man who has had sex without a condom or been diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection within the past six months;
  • Are heterosexual men or women who do not regularly use condoms when having sex with partners known to be at risk for HIV (e.g., injecting drug users or bisexual male partners of unknown HIV status); OR
  • Have, within the past six months, injected illicit drugs and shared equipment or been in a treatment program for injection drug use.

How else can I reduce my risk of HIV infection?

There are a number of ways that you can reduce or eliminate your risk of HIV/STI infection. These include, but are not limited to:

  • Regular use of condoms and lubricant. Reducing your number of sexual partners.
  • Engaging in non-penetrative sex where fluids are not exchanged and do not enter your body.
  • Using a sterile syringe if you inject substances and not sharing injection equipment.
  • Being tested with a new sexual partner prior to having sex of any kind.

PrEP During Quarantine

Should You Continue Taking PrEP During Quarantine?

We know many of you may be wondering if you should keep taking your PrEP during this time of self-isolation/quarantine. For many, sexual activity and sharing of injection drug equipment has decreased in the past few weeks and it doesn't seem like you should continue taking PrEP. It is recommended that individuals continue taking PrEP as normal while they are practicing social distancing and feel they may otherwise not need it.

Here are some main considerations behind the recommendation:

Continuing PrEP during this time makes restarting your sex life much easier once social distancing guide lines are lifted. When you stop taking PrEP, it can take some time for the medication to reach effective levels in your blood again. In some cases, this can take up to twenty-one days. We want to make sure you’re PrEP-ared to get back out there when the time is right!

Also, if you are someone who struggles to remember to take your PrEP every day, remaining on your daily PrEP regime may be a good way to keep up the habit.

We are all human, we know that sometimes sexual encounters and the sharing of injection drug equipment are often not planned. While it is important to consciously practice social distancing there is a chance for an encounter that is not planned. Remaining on PrEP ensures that you are protected against HIV if you should need it.

If you do choose to stop taking PrEP, consult with your primary care provider to learn how to stop safely. If you decide to start PrEP again after a period of going off of it, it is important to note that you must take an HIV test before starting PrEP again.

At the end of the day, it is your choice whether or not to keep taking PrEP and recognize that many factors go into this decision. If you have any questions or would like more information, do not hesitate to contact us at 801-487-2323 or visit our website, utahaids.org.

 

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