Preventing HIV Infection with PrEP​

What is PrEP?

Pre-exposure prophylaxis, also known as PrEP, is a medication used to prevent HIV infection among individuals at high risk for the HIV virus.

Who is PrEP for?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) PrEP can help protect you if you don't have HIV and any of the following apply to you:

You have had anal or vaginal sex in the past six months and you:

  • Have a sexual partner with HIV (especially if your partner has an unknown or detectable voiral load)
  • Have not consistently used a condom
  • Have been diagnosed with a sexually transmitted disease in the past six months

You inject drugs and you:

  • Have an injection partner with HIV
  • Share needles, syringes, or other drug injection equipment (for example: cookers)

You have been prescribed PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) and you:

  • Report continued risk behavior
  • Have used multiple courses of PEP

You may choose to take PrEP, even if the behaviors listed above do not apply to you. If you are worried about your risk of contracting HIV, talk to an ACCESS provider to see if this is the right HIV prevention method for you.

How does PrEP prevent HIV infection?

PrEP is most effective when taken daily. If you take PrEP daily, the presence of the medicine in your bloodstream can stop HIV from taking hold and spreading in your body.

How effective is PrEP?

PrEP reduces the risk of getting HIV from sex by about 99% when taken as prescribed. Although there is less information about how effective PrEP is among people who inject drugs, we do know that PrEP reduces the risk of getting HIV by at least 74% when taken as prescribed.

If you're interested in taking PrEP to prevent HIV infection, you must commit to taking the medication every day and seeing your ACCESS care provider for follow-up every three months.

Does PrEP cure HIV/AIDS?

No, it does not cure HIV/AIDS. However, use of PrEP in HIV prevention is considered to be one of the most significant milestones in the battle against HIV/AIDS. It is important to remember that PrEP is most effective when combined with other forms of protection against HIV, such as using condoms and avoiding needles for drug use. 

How Can We Help?

For more information on PrEP and other HIV services that ACCESS provides, call 312.526.2660 for more information​.

 

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As of May 22, 2025