Pre-exposure prophylaxis is the practice of taking medication before a possible exposure to an infectious agent in order to reduce the chance of becoming infected, most established as an HIV prevention strategy for people at ongoing risk. The United States Food and Drug Administration approved the first drug specifically for HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis, a combination of tenofovir and emtricitabine, in 2012, a decision that gave public health authorities a new tool for HIV prevention beyond condom use and treatment of people already infected. Taken consistently, pre-exposure prophylaxis substantially reduces the risk of acquiring HIV through sex or injection drug use, and it has become a standard part of HIV prevention programs for people at ongoing risk in many countries.
Facts
FAQs
Does pre-exposure prophylaxis protect against other infections or pregnancy?
It lowers the chance of HIV only; it does not prevent other sexually transmitted infections or pregnancy.
No. Pre-exposure prophylaxis lowers the chance of getting HIV, but according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention it does not prevent other sexually transmitted infections or pregnancy. The agency notes that condoms can help prevent certain other sexually transmitted infections and pregnancy, so the two are used for different purposes.
How long after starting does pre-exposure prophylaxis take to work?
About 7 days of daily use for receptive anal sex and about 21 days for receptive vaginal sex and injection drug use.
It depends on the kind of exposure. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that for receptive anal sex, the pills reach maximum protection from HIV at about 7 days of daily use. For receptive vaginal sex and injection drug use, the pills reach maximum protection at about 21 days of daily use.
Connections
Sources
1. Wikipedia
Wikipedia contributors, Wikimedia Foundation
2. Wikipedia: Truvada
Wikimedia FoundationIndications, PrEP approvalQuote, Indications, PrEP approval
It was approved for PrEP against HIV infection in the United States in 2012.
Pre-exposure prophylaxis (Wikipedia)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pre-exposure_prophylaxis, lead sectionQuote, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pre-exposure_prophylaxis, lead section
Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is the use of medications to prevent the spread of disease in people who have not yet been exposed to a disease-causing agent.
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