If you’ve been exposed to HIV (i.e. you’ve had condomless anal sex or shared equipment to inject drugs with a HIV+ person), you don’t always need to worry. You’ll already be protected if:
- You’re on PrEP. If you’ve been on PrEP for at least one week (i.e. seven consecutive daily doses), then you are protected against HIV.
- Your partner is on HIV treatment and their viral load is undetectable. This means they cannot pass on HIV to anyone through sex.
If you have stopped PrEP or recently missed doses and your partner has a detectable viral load (or you don’t know their HIV status), then you can use PEP. PEP stands for Post-Exposure Prophylaxis. It’s a course of medication you take after a HIV exposure to prevent HIV transmission.
PEP needs to be started within 72 hours, ideally sooner. To get PEP, head to your nearest emergency room or urgent care centre for immediate assistance. Freddie does not currently offer PEP services.
Here’s how PrEP works based on how you take it and what kind of sex you’ve had:
If You’re on Daily PrEP:
- Anal sex (anal tissue): You’re protected against HIV if you’ve taken 7 consecutive daily doses.
- Frontal sex (vaginal tissue): You’re protected against HIV if you’ve taken 21 consecutive daily doses with no missed doses.
- For all other body areas: You’re protected against HIV if you’ve taken 7 consecutive daily doses.
If You’re Taking PrEP On Demand (2-1-1 method):
- You’re protected against HIV if you have taken PrEP on demand exactly as prescribed
If your partner is on HIV treatment and has an undetectable viral load, they cannot pass HIV to you through sex. This is known as U=U: Undetectable = Untransmittable.
Urgent Care Centres by Province:
More information on PEP here: PEP-in-Pocket (PIP)