PrEP Navigation
Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a powerful tool to prevent HIV. It’s a daily pill—or a bimonthly injection—that dramatically lowers your chances of getting HIV if you’re exposed.
What Is PrEP?
The medications in PrEP are the same ones used to treat HIV, and when taken as prescribed, they stop the virus from multiplying in the body.
PrEP is highly effective:
- Up toeffective in preventing HIV from sexual transmission when taken daily.
- At leasteffective for people who inject drugs.
The CDC recommends PrEP for people who may be at higher risk of HIV exposure, including:
- People with multiple sexual partners.
- Individuals who don’t consistently use condoms.
- People in a relationship with someone living with HIV.
- People who inject drugs or share injection equipment.
PrEP isn’t a vaccine—it only works if you use it consistently. Options include:
- Daily oral tablets, like Truvada and Descovy.
- Long-acting injectable PrEP, given every two or six months.
PrEP gives you control over your sexual health. When taken regularly, it’s a safe, science-backed way to protect yourself and your partners.
Oral vs. Injectable PrEP
PrEP is transforming HIV prevention with two highly effective options that are designed to fit different lifestyles.
Daily oral PrEP involves taking a once-daily pill that provides highly effective protection against HIV when taken consistently. Some FDA-approved options include Truvada (approved for all genders and modes of transmission) and Descovy (approved for sexual transmission in cisgender men and transgender women).
Oral PrEP is ideal for people who are comfortable with a daily routine and want flexibility in starting or stopping as needed. When taken daily, it reduces the risk of acquiring HIV from sex by about 99%, and by at least 74% for people who inject drugs.
Best for people who like to have a daily routine and prefer to take pills.
- Type: Daily pill
- FDA Approved Options: Truvada, Descovy
- Dosing Schedule: Every day
- Effectiveness for Sexual Transmission: ~99%
- Effectiveness for People Who Inject Drugs: ~74%
- Flexibility: Start/stop easily
- Best For: People with daily routines
Apretude is the first long-acting injectable PrEP option approved by the FDA for adults and adolescents at risk for HIV. It starts with two initiation injections given one month apart, followed by a maintenance dose every two or six months.
Injectable PrEP is a great choice for those who prefer not to take daily pills or who have trouble remembering to take medication each day. When used as directed, it offers comparable protection to oral PrEP and has been shown to be at least as effective—if not more so—in certain populations. Both oral and injectable PrEP are safe and effective, and empower people to choose the prevention method that fits their lifestyle and preferences. Choosing PrEP means taking a powerful step toward protecting your health and future.
Best for people who prefer not to take daily medication or have difficulty remembering to take medication each day.
- Type: Bimonthly or longer injection
- FDA-Approved Options: Apretude
- Dosing Schedule: Every two or six months
- Effectiveness for Sexual Transmission: Comparable or better
- Effectiveness for People Who Inject Drugs: Comparable or better (in some populations)
- Flexibility: Requires clinic visits
- Best For: People who don’t like or forget to take daily meds