Sexual health: PrEP for HIV prevention

It's important to talk to your provider about your sexual health and what you can do to stay healthy. It can seem uncomfortable to talk to your provider about this, but your provider wants you to be healthy in all aspects of your life. We'll take the time to provide information that applies to your sexual situation and help you understand your choices.  

HIV prevention—or PrEP—might be one of the things you'd want to discuss with your provider. HIV is a virus, spread by blood and other body fluids, that attacks the body's immune system. In the United States, HIV infection is most commonly transmitted by sexual contact and IV drug use. There is no cure for HIV, but it can be treated—and, more importantly, it can be prevented. If you are at high risk for getting HIV, your provider may prescribe daily medication to reduce your risk. Taking medicine to lower your chances of getting infected with HIV is called PrEP or pre-exposure prophylaxis. If taken every day, Truvada (a combination of the drugs tenofovir and emtricitabine) can decrease the transmission of HIV.  

PrEP may be right for you if you do not have HIV and have an HIV-positive partner, if you have multiple partners whose HIV status is unknown, if you don't always use a condom when you have sex, OR if you use a needle to inject drugs.

Talk to your doctor, or visit cdc.gov/hiv for more information about PrEP pre-exposure prophylaxis to reduce your chance of getting HIV.