Pre-exposure prophylaxis - HIV

Quick facts:

• Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a treatment that people who are HIV-negative take to prevent getting HIV.
• PrEP is highly effective at preventing HIV when taken as prescribed.
• PrEP only protects against HIV therefore condom use is still important for protection against other sexually transmissible infections (STIs).

PrEP for HIV is an ongoing daily treatment for HIV-negative people to prevent HIV before a risk exposure, such as condomless sex with an HIV-positive partner. Clinical trials have shown that taking PrEP is very effective in preventing the transmission of HIV.

Transmission

HIV may be transmitted when blood, semen or vaginal fluid from an infected person enters the body of an uninfected person. This can happen through:

• Unprotected sex – anal and vaginal
• Sharing needles and injecting equipment contaminated with blood.

HIV may also be transmitted through donated blood products. However, all blood, organs, tissues and semen donated in Australia are screened for HIV. The risk of getting HIV from these products in Australia is very low. Donating blood or body parts does not put you at risk of HIV infection.

HIV can also be transmitted via mother-to-child transmission during pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding.

Treatment

Like any drugs, there may be some side effects when starting PrEP. Mild side-effects such as headaches and an upset stomach for a couple of weeks have been experienced by a small number of people. Many people get no side-effects at all. A small number of people may develop kidney problems. This is monitored by pathology testing every three months. Testing for STIs is also recommended every three months.

General practitioners can prescribe PrEP through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) to Australian residents who have a Medicare card. People with a current Medicare card and script will need to pay a PBS co-payment towards the cost of dispensing the medication.

If you are not eligible for Medicare, the PrEP Access Now website provides information about the best ways to access PrEP.

Prevention

The best way to avoid getting HIV and other STIs through sexual contact is to practice safe sex and always use condoms when having vaginal or anal sex. Using water-based lubricant with condoms is recommended to reduce the risk of condom breakage.

Needles, syringes and other injecting or piercing equipment should never be shared or re-used as HIV can be transmitted through blood-contaminated equipment. Sterile injecting equipment is available through Needle and Syringe Programs or many local pharmacies.

Other resources

• For comprehensive information about safe sex, STIs, testing and treatment for young adults, see Stop the Rise of STIs. For videos and resources developed with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, see Young Deadly Free.
• For information on PrEP in Arabic, Chinese, Filipino, Japanese, Korean, Spanish, Thai, or Vietnamese go to the StaySTIFree website. Other translated resources about STIs are available from the Ethnic Communities Council of Queensland.