PrEP stands for “pre-exposure prophylaxis.” The word “prophylaxis” means to prevent or protect from an infection or disease.PrEP can help prevent HIV infection in people who don’t have HIV but who are at high risk of becoming infected with HIV. PrEP involves taking an HIV medicine. The new treatment contains two HIV medicines (tenofovir disoproxil fumarate and emtricitabine) combined in one pill. If a person is exposed to HIV, having the PrEP medicine in the bloodstream can stop HIV from taking hold and spreading throughout the body.
Who should consider taking PrEP? PrEP is for people who don’t have HIV but who are at high risk of becoming infected with HIV through sex or injection drug use. Specifically, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)recommends that PrEP is considered for people who are HIV negative and in an ongoing sexual relationship with an HIV-positive…
