If you’re HIV-negative or don’t know your HIV status, and within the last 72 hours you
-think you might have been subjected to HIV during sex (for example, if the condom broke),
– shared needles and works to prepare drugs (for example, cotton, cookers, water),
– or were sexually assaulted,
speak to your healthcare provider or an ER doctor about PEP right away.
PEP should be utilized only in emergency situations and should be started within 72 hours following a recent possible contact with HIV. It’s not an alternative for regular utilization of other proven HIV prevention methods, such as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), meaning taking HIV medicines daily to reduce your chance to getting infected; using condoms the proper way each time you’ve sex; and using only your own personal new, sterile needles and works each time you inject.
PEP is beneficial, however not 100%, so you must continue to utilize condoms with sex partners and safe injection practices while taking PEP. These strategies can protect you from being subjected to HIV again and reduce steadily the likelihood of transmitting HIV to others should you become infected while you’re on PEP.
What’s PEP?
PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) means taking antiretroviral medicines (ART) after being potentially subjected to HIV to stop becoming infected.
Where can you obtain it?
You may get it free of charge at any government run hospital.
As opposed to dying of anxiety you are able to help prevent a time of taking pills by taking PEP for 30 days. The side effects might be nasty for a few people although some don’t experience any side-effect at all.