{"id":24254,"date":"2021-09-13T09:51:55","date_gmt":"2021-09-13T13:51:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.getmaple.ca\/?p=24254"},"modified":"2025-04-12T14:03:59","modified_gmt":"2025-04-12T18:03:59","slug":"prep-what-is-it-and-how-does-it-reduce-hiv-risk-and-infection","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.getmaple.ca\/blog\/prep-what-is-it-and-how-does-it-reduce-hiv-risk-and-infection\/","title":{"rendered":"PrEP: what is it and how does it reduce HIV risk and infection?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Medicine has come a long way since acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) was first identified in the <\/span>1980s<\/span>. But while AIDS is treatable, there\u2019s still no cure for it. The best way to protect yourself from AIDS and HIV, the virus that causes it, is through prevention. In combination with safe sex and drug use practices, PrEP can prevent you from getting HIV in the first place. Here\u2019s everything you need to know about PrEP and how it can reduce your risk of HIV infection.<\/span><\/p>\n

What is PrEP and how does it reduce HIV infection?<\/h3>\n

PrEP, which stands for pre-exposure prophylaxis, is a daily pill that helps to prevent human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) \u2014 the virus that causes AIDS. The most popular PrEP medication in Canada is a combination of two anti-HIV drugs called tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF), and emtricitabine (FTC). You can buy this medication under the brand name Truvada, or in its generic form \u2014 both are equally effective. Descovy is another equally effective PrEP drug, but it\u2019s more expensive than the others and isn\u2019t yet subsidized by most healthcare plans.<\/span><\/p>\n

Regardless of its brand name, if taken correctly, <\/span>PrEP is 99% effective<\/span> at preventing HIV from sex, and at least 74% effective at preventing it from injection drug use. If you come into contact with HIV and have enough PrEP in your system, it blocks the virus from entering your healthy CD4 cells and making copies of itself. This prevents HIV from permanently infecting you. PrEP won\u2019t, however, protect you from other sexually transmitted infections like chlamydia, herpes, or gonorrhea. It also doesn\u2019t stop you from getting pregnant. Because of this, doctors recommend that you use PrEP with other sexual health practices such as wearing condoms.<\/span><\/p>\n

Who can take PrEP? Can you use PrEP if you’re HIV positive?<\/h3>\n

PrEP is for anyone who may be at higher risk of HIV exposure. This might be you if you frequently have unprotected sex with different partners, if your partner is HIV positive, or if you\u2019re a sex worker or an injection drug user. You may also be at increased risk if your partner engages in any of these behaviours.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Because PrEP is a preventative course of medication, you should only take it if you\u2019re HIV-negative. If you know or suspect that you\u2019re HIV-positive, or think you\u2019ve been exposed to HIV, get tested and speak to your doctor about other forms of treatment, or about <\/span>post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP)<\/span>. Taking PrEP when you\u2019re HIV-positive can make you resistant to the medication, limiting your future treatment options.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

How do you take PrEP?<\/h3>\n

You need to have a certain amount of PrEP in your system to prevent HIV, so timing is a crucial part of taking the medication. This means it\u2019s usually prescribed as a daily pill, and the more regularly you take it, the better it\u2019ll protect you from getting HIV.<\/span><\/p>\n

What are the side effects of PrEP?<\/h3>\n

PrEP is safe to take for most users. Some mild to moderate <\/span>side effects<\/span><\/a> may include:<\/span><\/p>\n