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 for an in-person assessment. You can also visit an urgent care centre. Freddie does not currently offer PEP to our patients.
More information on PEP here: PEP-in-Pocket (PIP)