PrEP info for people in the UK
posted by Jess Wynn
on 17th November 2015
Pre-exposure prophylaxis is a course of HIV drugs taken before sex to reduce the risk of getting HIV.
It is taken as a tablet once a day and research suggests that if it is taken every day as directed, it is very effective in preventing HIV transmission. PrEP is intended for people who are at high risk of getting HIV. This includes people with a partner who is HIV positive or those who have multiple sexual partners and find it hard to use condoms. This is different to post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), which is taken after a potential exposure to HIV.
In the UK, PrEP is only available to people who have enrolled in a research trial. This means that PrEP isn’t currently available through the NHS on prescription. There is no agreement yet for when this might happen.
If you are interested in learning more about the PROUD study, a PrEP clinical study in the UK:
If you are interested in learning about how PrEP works and how it has impacted on various communities in the USA: https://www.vice.com/en_uk/video/stopping-hiv-with-the-truvada-revolution-part-1-111