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PrEP to Prevent HIV

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is safe and effective medicine that anyone can take to prevent HIV.

To get started on PrEP, talk to your health care provider, or visit an NYC Sexual Health Clinic. You can find clinics that provide PrEP by visiting the NYC Health Map or calling 311. Your PrEP provider will test you to make sure you do not have HIV.

Taking PrEP

PrEP is available as a pill or a long-acting injection.

Daily PrEP

  • Once a day: Take a pill that contains PrEP medicine – either Descovy or Truvada (also available as a generic).
  • Every 3 months: Check in with your provider to refill your prescription and get tested for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Some clinics offer check-ins by phone or video chat.

Injectable PrEP

  • Every 2 months: Visit your provider to receive an injection of Apretude, a long-acting PrEP medicine, and get tested for HIV and other STIs;
  • Or, every 6 months: Visit your provider to receive an injection of Yeztugo, an ultra long-acting PrEP medicine, and talk to your provider about how often to get tested for HIV and other STIs.
  • Talk to your provider before you stop taking injectable PrEP.

PrEP on Demand

Cisgender men who have sex with men can take Truvada (or its generic) as PrEP on demand. With PrEP on demand, take PrEP pills only before and after sex:

  • 2 pills 2 to 24 hours before sex (the first dose)
  • 1 pill 24 hours after the first dose
  • 1 pill 48 hours after the first dose

If you keep having sex, continue taking 1 pill every 24 hours until you have taken two pills after you last had sex.

When taken as prescribed, PrEP on demand prevents HIV during anal sex.

  • User's Guide to PrEP on Demand (PDF)
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    Compare Daily PrEP, PrEP on Demand and Injectable PrEP

    Daily PrEP

    • Medicines to use: Descovy or Truvada (also available as a generic).
    • Who can take it: Anyone can take Truvada (or its generic) as daily PrEP.
    • When to take it: Every day.
    • Planning medicine use around sex: None.
    • If you miss a pill: Protects during anal sex even if you occasionally miss a pill. May not protect as well during receptive vaginal sex if you miss pills.

    Injectable PrEP

    • Medicines to use: Apretude or Yeztugo.
    • Who can take it: Anyone who may be exposed to HIV during sex.
    • When to take it: Every two months (Apretude) or every six months (Yeztugo).
    • Planning medicine use around sex: None.
    • If you delay or miss an injection: If you need to delay or miss an injection, discuss options for staying on PrEP until your next injection with your provider.

    PrEP on Demand

    • Medicines to use: Truvada (also available as a generic).
    • Who can take it: Only shown effective for cisgender men who have sex with men. Not for people having receptive vaginal sex.
    • When to take it: Before sex and then every day until two days after you last have sex.
    • Planning medicine use around sex: You must take the first dose two to 24 hours before sex. It is recommended to take the first dose closer to 24 hours.
    • If you miss a pill: You must take each pill as prescribed. Use condoms if you are unable to take the first dose in time, or emergency PEP if you miss any dose.

    How to Pay for PrEP

    In New York State, some PrEP options are covered by Medicaid and most health insurance plans without any co-pays for medicines, lab work or clinic visits.

    Ask your clinic about patient assistance programs that help people who are uninsured or undocumented pay for PrEP.

    Learn more about your Payment Options for PrEP (PDF).

    Who Should Take PrEP

    Consider taking PrEP if you do not have HIV and any of the following apply to you.

    • Are worried you could be exposed to HIV
    • Do not always use condoms during sex
    • Recently had a sexually transmitted infection (STI)
    • Recently took emergency PEP to prevent HIV
    • Inject drugs and share syringes or other injection equipment
    • Have a partner who has HIV and a detectable or unknown viral load
    • Have a partner who may have HIV or has not recently had an HIV test

    How PrEP Stops HIV

    If you take PrEP and are exposed to HIV, the medicine in PrEP stops the virus from spreading throughout your body.

    PrEP only stops HIV if you have and maintain high enough levels of medicine in your body, so you need to take it as prescribed.

    When taken as prescribed, PrEP reduces the risk of getting HIV through sex by over 99%.

    PrEP Only Prevents HIV

    To prevent other STIs, get tested regularly, get appropriate vaccines, and use condoms correctly and consistently. Doxy PEP (doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis), a pill that helps prevent chlamydia, syphilis, and gonorrhea, may also be an option for you.

    To prevent pregnancy, use birth control.

    PrEP Is Safe

    The medicines used for PrEP are safe. All have been studied as PrEP in clinical trials and used as medicines to treat people with HIV.

    Side Effects

    Most people on PrEP do not report any side effects. The most common side effects are nausea, upset stomach, fatigue and headaches. These symptoms often get better or go away within the first month or two of taking PrEP. PrEP injections may cause swelling or redness at the injection site. Rare side effects of PrEP include kidney or bone problems.

    Your health care provider can help you manage any side effects.

    Stopping PrEP

    PrEP protects you against HIV as long as you take it as prescribed. Tell your provider if anything makes it difficult for you to take PrEP.

    Talk to your provider before you stop taking PrEP. You will need to use another method to prevent HIV.

    PrEP for Adolescents

    In New York State, you can get PrEP or other sexual health services without a parent’s permission, including at NYC Sexual Health Clinics. Learn about your rights and steps you can take (PDF) to keep your PrEP prescription or other sexual health services confidential.

    PrEP for Women

    PrEP is a safe and effective HIV prevention option for women.

    Truvada (and its generic) and injectable Apretude or Yeztugo are approved for cisgender women, transgender women, and transgender men, and Descovy is approved for transgender women. Descovy may not be appropriate for cisgender women or transgender men because of a lack of research on how well it prevents HIV during receptive vaginal sex.

    People who have receptive vaginal sex need to be especially careful to take PrEP pills every day to maintain enough medicine in their vaginal tissue to prevent HIV.

    PrEP Does Not Interfere with Hormone Therapy or Birth Control

    There is no evidence that PrEP interacts with gender affirming hormone therapy, hormone replacement therapy, or hormonal contraception. Research shows that PrEP does not interfere with any kind of birth control.

    PrEP Can Protect You and Your Fetus During Pregnancy and Your Baby If You Are Nursing

    PrEP protects people who are pregnant from getting HIV, which protects their fetus and baby from being exposed to HIV during and after pregnancy.

    PrEP is safe to use during and after pregnancy and has not been shown to affect fertility.

    If you would like to take PrEP while trying to conceive, talk to your health care provider.

    Additional Resources

    More Information