PEP stands for Post-Exposure Prophylaxis — something that you take after you’ve been exposed as a way of blocking HIV from establishing itself in the body.
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What if there was a way to prevent infection, even after exposure to HIV?
If you think you've been exposed to HIV, there's medicine that can help. It's called "PEP", or Post-Exposure Prophylaxis. It's a medicine for guys who are concerned that they've been exposed to the HIV virus -- either because the condom broke or slipped off, or because they had condomless sex with a partner of uncertain status.
The first dose of PEP must be taken as soon as possible -- within 72 hours of exposure. But every hour matters, so if you think you need PEP , don't wait! PEP consists of a combination of anit-HIV medicines takes for 28 days. PEP is not designed for regular use as an HIV prevention method.
PEP used to come with a lot of side effects, but these days, many people no longer experience significant side effects.
After your treatment is complete, follow the testing schedule recommended by your doctor. Use condoms during this time.
Today, if something unexpected happens, PEP might be an option for you. For more information on PEP and when to use it, visit TheSexYouWant.ca
You may be concerned about being exposed to HIV because you didn’t use a condom, it broke, or something else unexpected happened while you were playing with someone. In that case, you can go to the emergency room and ask for PEP to reduce your chances of acquiring HIV. You need to start PEP within 72 hours, and the sooner you start PEP, the more likely it will work. You’ll have to take it every day for 28 days.
If you’re someone who can anticipate that you might be exposed to HIV sometime in the future, but not often enough for PrEP to make sense for you, you may be able to access PEP-In-Pocket (PIP). PIP is PEP you keep on hand, so you can start it immediately if you’re exposed to untreated HIV, without a visit to the emergency room.
