I receive various questions from over half a million young people who follow my pages on social media every day. There is a question that I am often asked by young people who are particularly scared and anxious after having unprotected sex:
"Dr. Priya, I had unprotected sex last night. I'm very scared now that I might get HIV. What should I do immediately to save my life?"
When I met Asanga (age 24) who had sent this message, the first thing I told her was to calm down. "Asanga, it's natural to be scared after having unprotected sex. But at this time , PEP (Post-Exposure Prophylaxis), which can be taken within 72 hours, can save your life. And today, we will also talk in detail about the wonderful protection method called PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis), which can be used to prevent such fears in the future."
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🚨 Red Flags that require immediate medical attention
If you have experienced any of the following dangerous situations, you should immediately go to a government STD clinic and seek emergency treatment within 72 hours:
- Having sex without using a condom with someone who is HIV positive or unsure of their status.
- A condom breaks or comes off during sex.
- Fever, body aches, sore throat, and rashes after unprotected sex 2-4 weeks ago.
- Sharing a single-use needle or syringe.
What is the difference between PrEP and PEP?
Many people confuse PrEP and PEP, so it is important to understand the basic difference between them:
| Feature | 💊 PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis) | 🧪 PEP (Post-Exposure Prophylaxis) |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Preventive treatment taken before sexual intercourse. | Emergency treatment after sexual intercourse. |
| Time to take medication | It should be taken daily starting a few days before sexual intercourse. | It should be started within 72 hours of unprotected intercourse. |
| Medicine course | Continue to take daily as long as the risk persists. | The pills must be taken continuously for 28 days. |
| Success | If used correctly, it prevents HIV by 99%. | If taken correctly, it largely prevents HIV transmission. |
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Check Availability →How does PrEP work?
PrEP is an antiviral medication that prevents the HIV virus from multiplying in the body before the body is exposed to it. It can be taken in two forms:
1. Oral Pills: Taking one pill daily, such as Truvada or Descovy .
2. Injectable: The recently introduced Apretude vaccine is given intramuscularly monthly for the first two months, and then every two months thereafter.
Both of these methods, if used correctly and according to medical advice, prevent the risk of contracting HIV through sexual intercourse by 99% .
> [!IMPORTANT]
> PrEP only prevents HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) infection. PrEP cannot be used to prevent pregnancy or other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as syphilis, gonorrhea, and herpes.
Who should take PrEP?
Doctors recommend PrEP medication to people who are not currently infected with HIV negative) and who fall into the following categories:
- People who have sex with multiple partners without using condoms.
- People whose partner is infected with the HIV virus (Serodiscordant Couples).
- Men who have sex with men (MSM).
- People who use shared needles or syringes to inject drugs.
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