How do you take PrEP? Is it a pill or a shot?
Good question! When PrEP (pills) became available for the first time, a doctor would prescribe the medication, and then patients would pick it up from the pharmacy. This is still available today, but now there is another option. Instead of taking a pill every day and picking up refills from the pharmacy, people eligible for PrEP can get a PrEP prescription from their doctor as an injection. That means they go to their medical provider and get their PrEP as a shot. Depending on the type of injectable PrEP, the shot is given by a medical provider every 1–2 months or every 6 months.
If I use PrEP that means I don’t need to use condoms, right?
Wrong. PrEP is just one HIV prevention tool, but combining multiple strategies, like using condoms, increases your protection against HIV infection. While condoms also help prevent other STIs and pregnancy, PrEP only protects against HIV, so it’s important to still use condoms to protect yourself from other STIs and prevent unplanned pregnancies.
| PrEP (when taken every day) helps prevent: |  HIV |
 STIs |
Pregnancy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Condoms (when used every time) help prevent: | HIV |
STIs |
Pregnancy |
If you need access to condoms, check out Take Control Philly, where you can get condoms for free. On the “Get Checked” page you can find places to get tested for HIV and other STIs.
How soon after starting PrEP will it be effective?
Pill form of PrEP
The pill form of PrEP is effective (meaning it is protecting you from HIV infection) after taking it for seven days as directed by your medical provider. It can take longer for PrEP to start working for some people (non-males), possibly up to 30 days. Because it’s hard to nail down the exact moment you’re fully protected by PrEP, it’s important to continue to use condoms and other HIV prevention strategies you know and like.
You can also talk to your medical provider about how long it will take for PrEP to give you full protection.
Injectable form of PrEP
Injectable PrEP is effective about one week after receiving the initial injection. Like the pill form, injectable PrEP can take longer to start working for some people (non-males), around 21 to 30 days. Because it’s hard to nail down the exact moment you’re fully protected by PrEP, it’s important to continue to use condoms and other HIV prevention strategies you know and like.
You can also talk to your medical provider about how long it will take for PrEP to give you full protection.
Can you get HIV from taking PrEP?
No, you cannot get HIV from taking PrEP medication. The medication used in PrEP was originally designed for HIV-positive individuals. Later, scientists found out that this medication has another use: it can help prevent HIV transmission for HIV-negative individuals. There is no HIV virus in this medication, and there is no HIV virus in PrEP pill medications or injection medications. So, you can’t get HIV from PrEP medication.
The only way you can get HIV while on PrEP is if you stop taking it and stop all other HIV prevention strategies such as condoms. To be protected against HIV, keep taking PrEP (or receiving PrEP injections) as directed and use condoms every time you have sex.
Can I just ask my doctor about PrEP?
Yes. Especially if you are interested in injectable PrEP, it is important to talk to your doctor because injections need to be done by a medical provider during an in-person visit; they cannot be self-administered at home.
If you have a regular primary care doctor (someone you see for yearly appointments and when you are sick) you can ask them about PrEP. Talking about PrEP will also mean talking to your doctor about your sexual history and HIV testing. Hopefully you’re already talking about this stuff with them, but if not, this is a great time to start!
Some doctors might not know about PrEP or might not know very much. That doesn’t mean they’re bad doctors, it’s just that PrEP is relatively new, and they may not have many patients asking about it yet. The section below has information about starting the conversation with your doctor about PrEP.
How can I start the conversation?
Starting the conversation with your doctor can be difficult or uncomfortable, but we have a few quick tips to help you get started.
Before your visit:
- Do some research on PrEP so you feel more comfortable asking about it
- Make a list of questions you want to ask your doctor (is PrEP right for me? what is required of me to take PrEP? can you start me on PrEP and manage my prescriptions?)
- Make a list of why you want to start PrEP (might include feelings, concerns and more details about your sexual history)
At your visit:
- Ask all the questions you have written down
- Be clear about why you’re interested in PrEP, and why you think you’re a good candidate
- Be honest – it can be hard to talk about sexual health with your doctor, but the more information they have, the better they can support you in your HIV prevention efforts
Take a look at this brochure to help with some talking points with your doctor.
Do I need insurance?
You do not need insurance in order to receive PrEP, but if you do have insurance you can use it.
If you DON’T have insurance: There are a few places in Philadelphia where you can get PrEP prescribed for FREE. These include community health agencies and Philadelphia Department of Health Clinics. We partner with these agencies all the time and trust the services they provide. Many clinics will help you get your own insurance if that is a goal of yours, this way you can receive PrEP anywhere.
If you DO have insurance: You can get PrEP at any healthcare provider’s office that prescribes it. Once PrEP is prescribed to you, your insurance will be charged, and an explanation of benefits (EOB) report will be sent home (mostly for private insurance companies). This document explains what was prescribed by the doctor and the cost (covered by insurance). This is important to know about in case you share your insurance with your parents, a guardian, or a partner – they might receive the EOB and then know you’re taking PrEP. If taking PrEP is something you want to keep confidential, consider utilizing one of the free clinics listed above until you have your own insurance.