PrEP is recommended for HIV-negative people who are at higher risk for HIV. There are a few groups of people this can apply to:
- Gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (including trans men)
- Trans women
- Gender diverse people
You might be a candidate for PrEP if you’re one of the above groups and you have high anxiety about HIV or have had condomless anal sex in the last six months, or think you might in future. You do not need PrEP if you have been in a monogomous relationship with an HIV-negative partner for at least three months. If you are within this period then you should still use HIV prevention tools like PrEP or condoms, because it can take three months for HIV to show up on a test.
You also do not need PrEP if you are in a monogamous relationship with someone who is HIV-positive and undetectable. This is because HIV treatment reduces the amount of virus in someone’s body to a level where they can’t pass it on during sex.
- Sex workers
If you are a sex worker who sees clients in person then you might also be a candidate for PrEP. This applies regardless of your gender or the gender of your clients.
- People who inject drugs
If you inject drugs or think you will in future, then PrEP can protect you from HIV through sharing drug equipment. This is not as much protection as through sex, but it still reduces your risk.
- People from HIV-endemic countries
If your partner or partners are from a country where HIV is endemic (i.e. it has high HIV rates), or you may have these partners in future, then PrEP could be right for you. This can apply regardless of your gender or sexual orientation. These regions include sub-Saharan Africa, the Caribbean, and some parts of south-east Asia.