PrEP (short for pre-exposure prophylaxis) has been a revolutionary method of HIV prevention that has saved countless lives since the FDA approved it in 2012. It’s 99% effective in preventing HIV transmission. Nowadays, you have a choice in how you take your PrEP: through a daily pill, or a bimonthly injection (we prefer to call them backshots around here 😉).
What form of PrEP is right for you? That depends on how well you stick to routines and some other factors. We’ll break down each type of PrEP so you can figure out what works best for you.
Daily Pills
If you choose the pill option for PrEP, it means taking one pill every day.
There are two pills approved for PrEP:
- Truvada or generic: For individuals of any gender at risk of HIV exposure through sex or injected drug use.
- Descovy: For cisgender men who have sex with men and transgender women.
PrEP pills may be a good option for:
- People who don’t have insurance.
- Our PrEP2Me program gets you a PrEP prescription without needing insurance.
- Whether you schedule your appointments with us online, visit one of our six clinics, or see us at an outreach event, we’ll take good care of you.
- With PrEP pills, you can take them daily at home, so there's no need to schedule appointments once you get started.
- Just remember, regular follow-up for HIV testing is still important to stay on top of your health.
Here’s an important thing to consider. PrEP pills need to be taken every day so that they work effectively. Remembering to take meds daily can be challenging for some folks, so if you struggle with maintaining a routine like that or you have a hard time swallowing pills, you may want to skip to the next section about injection PrEP.
Injections
PrEP injections may be a good option for people who:
- Have problems taking oral PrEP as prescribed.
- Prefer getting a shot every 2 months instead of taking oral PrEP.
- Have serious kidney disease that prevents the use of oral PrEP medications.
Here are a few things to consider before going on the PrEP injection:
- The injection may be more expensive than the pills.
- If you have a fear of needles, injected PrEP may not be the best option for you. The medication is injected into the muscles of your buttocks by a healthcare professional every 2 months.
- PrEP shots are not recommended for people who inject drugs.
No matter what form of PrEP you take, you are taking control of your health, and that’s one of the best things you can do for yourself. Both methods are highly effective in stopping the spread of HIV in your community, and you are doing your part to take care of it.
If you’ve got more questions about PrEP and what option works best for you, ask your clinician at your next walk-in or scheduled appointment with us. But if you’re ready to get started on PrEP today, visit PrEP2Me.com.
