What is PrEP and how does it work?

PrEP (short for HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis) is a pill you take to prevent HIV. It reliably protects you from an HIV infection, as long as you take it with a doctor's guidance. If you're using PrEP, you don't have to worry about your partners' HIV status during sex. PrEP is considered a form of safer sex, just like condoms.

However, PrEP doesn't protect you from other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) like chlamydia, gonorrhea, or syphilis. You can get vaccinated against certain infections like Hepatitis A, B, or HPV. For all other STIs, regular testing is the best way to catch infections early, even if you don't have any symptoms.

HIV is passed on through mucous membranes, for example, in the anal, vaginal, or penile areas. The mucous membrane in your mouth, however, has natural protective mechanisms, so the risk of HIV from oral sex is extremely low. For vaginal or anal sex, protection with PrEP or condoms is important.

For PrEP to protect you reliably, you need to start taking it in time before sex and continue taking it for long enough after your last risky contact. If you have more general questions about PrEP or how to use it, you can find more info here: https://www.swissprepared.ch

You can also find more helpful information here: https://aids.ch/safer-sex/schuetzen/hiv-prep/