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Post Exposure Prophylaxis

After someone is exposed to HIV, it takes some time (a few hours to a few days) before the virus permanently infects them. During that time it’s possible to take a treatment that damages the virus to the point where it can’t infect properly. This is called PEP.

PEP is a course of anti-HIV drugs (the same as those taken by people withHIV), which are taken every day for four weeks. Although they make infectionwith HIV a lot less likely, they don’t work every time.

PEP is more likely to work if it is taken as quickly as possible after exposure,but the chances of it working are low after 72 hours (3 days). So if you thinkyou’ve been exposed, you need to get yourself seen as soon as you can. You can get PEP from your local Sexual Health Clinic (GUM) or Accident andEmergency Department if the clinic is closed.

You’ll be asked some questions before you’re given PEP to make sure that it’s needed such as:

  • Is there a high risk that the person you had unprotected sex with has HIV?
  • What kind of sex did you have?
  • What are the chances of you already having HIV? (You will need to have an HIV test to answer this one)

It’s important to remember that PEP can make you seriously ill. It can cause diarrhoea, headaches and general sickness, so it can’t be used like a morning after pill or as a substitute for safer sex.