Some people are at a higher risk for these infections and should get tested at least once a year. Those include people who have multiple sex partners, men who have sex with men, people with a history of STDs, and people who inject drugs.
There are many easy ways to prevent HIV, Hepatitis C, and other STDs. Some of those ways are using condoms every time, knowing yours and your partner’s HIV status, never sharing needles or other injection equipment, or properly cleaning injection equipment if you do share. There are also medications available that are very effective at preventing HIV.
-PrEP
What is PrEP?
- PrEP stands for pre-exposure prophylaxis and is a medicine that people can take to prevent getting HIV from sex or injecting drugs.
- All it takes is one pill, once a day.
- PrEP can reduce your risk of getting HIV by sex by over 90% and reduces the risk of getting HIV by injecting drugs by 70%.
- PrEP does not prevent other STDs, so it is still important to protect yourself.
-PEP
What is PEP?
- PEP stands for post-exposure prophylaxis and is medicine you can take to prevent HIV after possibly being exposed to HIV.
- PEP should only be used in emergency situations and MUST be started within 72 hours. The sooner, the better.
- PEP has to be taken for 28 days and is not the best choice for people exposed to HIV regularly.
- If you have regular possible exposure, ask us about PrEP.
