It is also important that if you decide to stop taking PrEP for any reason that you talk with your provider, as there may be considerations to discuss before going off of it.
How Do You Get PrEP?
If you think PrEP may be right for you, the best first step would be to talk to your healthcare provider.
Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/prevention/prep.html
HIV.gov. (2025, September 18). It will be more effective the quicker you take it, with some guidelines recommending that you start within 24 or 48 hours.
I don’t need PrEP, can I just get a sexual health test?
Yes! That peace of mind reduces the fear and stigma associated with HIV.
PrEP is about self-determination.
PrEP is for everyone. Retrieved from https://www.hiv.gov/hiv-basics/hiv-prevention/using-hiv-medication-to-reduce-risk/pre-exposure-prophylaxis
U.S. PrEP can also help people who inject drugs stay HIV-negative.
Is PrEP Right for Me?
Consider starting PrEP if:
You have more than one sex partner.
You don’t always use condoms (external or internal) when having vaginal or anal intercourse.
“Always” means every time – not just sometimes!
Federally qualified health centers are also great resources, based on their ability to provide care on a sliding-scale fee service.
The most important thing you need to do before starting PrEP is to have a validated HIV test to ensure you are HIV-negative. 😉
You are in an ongoing relationship with someone who has HIV.
You are unsure of your partner’s HIV status.
You have been diagnosed with an STD/STI in the past six months.
You have injected drugs in the past six months and have shared needles.
Is PrEP right for you?
However, TAF-based PrEP is not currently recommended for individuals engaging in receptive vaginal sex due to insufficient data.
Adherence and Its Influence on Protection
Effective PrEP hinges on adherence. Which option is right for you depends on your preferences as well as your specific risk.
The two pills approved for PrEP are Truvada and Descovy.
PrEP is a prevention method for people who are HIV-negative, but are vulnerable to getting HIV. When taken daily, PrEP is up to 99% effective at preventing new HIV infections.
PrEP is a key part of preventing new HIV infections, but does not block STDs/STIs like gonorrhea and chlamydia. Just come along and ask to be tested or book on with our sexual health team on our regular clinic days of Wednesdays 4pm-8pm, Fridays 4pm-8pm or Saturdays 11am-3pm.
You do not need to see an HIV specialist or infectious disease physician to get on PrEP. Retrieved from https://www.hiv.gov/hiv-basics/hiv-prevention/using-hiv-medication-to-reduce-risk/pre-exposure-prophylaxis/accessing
Written in 2025 by HRC Research & Education and peer reviewed by GLMA Education Committee
Introducing PrEP: Your Path to HIV Prevention
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Healthcare Sexual Health Wellbeing
Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) is a highly effective medication that can significantly reduce your risk of contracting HIV.
When taken as prescribed, PrEP can lower your risk by over 90%.
Check out our PrEP Initation clinic dates here:
Our PrEP Initiation Offers:
Comprehensive HIV Screening: Before starting PrEP, we conduct a full spectrum sexual health assessment, including:
Renal function (kidney and liver function tests – which will have ongoing oversight and support from The Northern Clinic, to maintain your renal health during PrEP course)
PrEP Consultation & Prescription:
Our experienced team will discuss your individual risk factors and answer all your questions about PrEP.
We’ll determine if PrEP is right for you and provide a personalised prescription, and if you’re suitable you will get your medication straight away.
We’ll discuss how to regulate taking your medication and potential side effects.
Ongoing Support & Monitoring:
Your repeat prescriptions will be handled through the Northern where you can book and appointment through your personal health record here: https://mft.myphr.online/
We offer ongoing support to ensure you’re successfully using PrEP.
Regular follow-ups appointments are available for:
STI retesting
Addressing any concerns you may have
Who is PrEP for?
PrEP can be taken by anyone of any gender or sexuality and PrEP may be an option for you if:
You are not living with HIV
You are sexually active
You are at risk of HIV exposure (e.g., inconsistent condom use, multiple sexual partners)
What if I need PEP?
PEP (Post-exposure prophylaxis) is a strong combination of HIV medicines that can help stop you from getting HIV after potentially being exposed to it. It is an emergency medication that can be accessed from A&E or by phoning and attending your local sexual health clinic.
PEP is a 28-day course of medication, and you need to start taking it within 72 hours of unprotected sex.
Studies show that rectal tissue absorbs tenofovir more efficiently than vaginal tissue, which allows gay men using daily PrEP to reach maximum protection in just 7 days, versus 21 days for vaginal exposure (Source: Frontiers in Pharmacology, 2019; Anderson et al., 2012).
Once absorbed, tenofovir diphosphate concentrations rise to levels that interfere with HIV replication.
PrEP is only available with a prescription, but any health care provider licensed to write prescriptions can prescribe PrEP (including pharmacists in some states). There are other tests that you will need to complete at the beginning of your journey, and you will also need to have repeat HIV testing while on PrEP, based on the recommendations of your healthcare provider and the type of PrEP you are taking.
References:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024).
It is administered every other month.
Yeztugo® (lenacapavir) is for all people at risk of HIV through sex.
PrEP Resource
What is PrEP?
PrEP, or pre-exposure prophylaxis, is a medicine you can take to prevent getting HIV from sex or injection drug use. Let’s get you started!
PrEP, especially the combination of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) and emtricitabine (FTC), is among the most effective HIV prevention tools for gay men. Models show that consistent daily dosing builds protective concentrations in rectal tissue rapidly, while missed doses in early use delay full protection.
PrEP works by blocking HIV replication at the earliest stage.
Gay men reach protection faster due to efficient drug absorption in rectal tissue.
Clinical trials confirm nearly 100% effectiveness with consistent dosing.
On-demand PrEP is validated for planned anal sex among gay men.
New formulations like TAF offer similar protection with better safety profiles.
Order generic Descovy (TAF) online at HIV24
Category: PrEP Info
Tags: PrEP for MSM, PrEP Info
PrEP, when paired with other harm-reduction measures, is one of several effective ways to reduce your risk of getting HIV.
Who Should Take PrEP?
Studies have shown that PrEP effectively prevents HIV in many different groups of people, including those at risk from sexual activity or injection drug use.
While PrEP is often discussed as part of gay men’s healthcare, it’s not just for this population.
We can help most people get PrEP for free, even if you don’t have insurance. In clinical trials, PrEP has been shown to reduce the risk by 99% in those who take it for sexual exposure and by 74% in those who take it for risk due to injection drugs. It is important to note that taking it as prescribed is very important, as the effectiveness decreases significantly if not taken consistently.