What's the difference between PEP and PrEP?

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As indicated by 'post', you start to take it after a single event that may have exposed you to HIV. PrEP is designed to be used in a planned way.

What's the difference between PEP and PrEP?

HIV Prevention | PEP and PrEP

What's the difference between PEP and PrEP?

Dr.Deyn Natthakhet Yaemim, written on 28 Janruary 2019. Last reviewed 24 August 2022

PrEP and PEP are two ways to use anti-HIV medications as ‘prophylaxis’, in other words as prevention. They work in different ways.

PrEP stands for pre-exposure prophylaxis. It is for people who don’t already have HIV but are at very high risk of getting it. PrEP is daily medicine that can reduce this risk. With PrEP, if you do get exposed to HIV, the medicine can stop HIV from taking hold and spreading throughout your body.

PEP stands for post-exposure prophylaxis. PEP is for people who have possibly been exposed to HIV. It is only for emergency situations. PEP must be started within 72 hours after a possible exposure to HIV.

PrEP stands for pre-exposure prophylaxis.	PEP stands for post-exposure prophylaxis.
As indicated by ‘pre’, you start to take it before you may be exposed to HIV.	As indicated by ‘post’, you start to take it after a single event that may have exposed you to HIV.
PrEP is designed to be used in a planned way, on an ongoing basis.	PEP is used in emergency situations.
Most people take PrEP once a day, every day. Some people can use ‘event-based’ dosing, which involves taking it before sex and then for two days afterwards.	PEP is a four-week course of drugs, taken once a day during that time. It is best to start PEP within 24 hours of exposure to HIV, but certainly within 72 hours.
There are two drugs in PrEP. They are usually combined in a single tablet.	There are three drugs in PEP – usually the same two that are taken for PrEP, plus a third one. The third drug works in a different way to the first two (it from a different drug class). The three drugs are usually provided in two tablets.
Who are they for?
PEP: People without HIV who have Had condomiess sex with a partner of unknow HIV status Shared needles Had a workplace injury Experienced sexual assault	PrEP : People without HIV who have Had condomiess sex with a partner with HIV Had condomiess sex with a partner of unknow HIV status Shared needles
Who should take PEP and PrEP?
If you are HIV-negative and you think you may have been recently exposed to HIV, contact your health care provider immediately or go to an emergency room right away. You may be prescribed PEP if you are HIV negative or don’t know your HIV status, and in the last 72 hours you: Think you may have been exposed to HIV during sex, Shared needles or drug preparation equipment, OR Were sexually assaulted Your health care provider or emergency room doctor will help to decide whether PEP is right for you. PEP may also be given to a health care worker after a possible exposure to HIV at work, for example, from a needlestick injury.	Who should take PrEP? Gay/bisexual men who: Have an HIV-positive partner Have multiple partners, a partner with multiple partners, or a partner whose HIV status is unknown and Have anal sex without a condom OR Have been diagnosed with a sexually transmitted disease (STD) in the last 6 months Heterosexual men and women who: Have an HIV-positive partner Have multiple partners, a partner with multiple partners, or a partner whose HIV status is unknown and Don’t always use a condom when having sex with people who inject drugs OR Don’t always use a condom when having sex with bisexual men People who inject drugs and: Share needles or other equipment to inject drugs OR Are at risk for getting HIV from sex If you have a partner who is HIV-positive and are considering getting pregnant, talk to your health care provider about PrEP. Taking it may help protect you and your baby from getting HIV infection while you try to get pregnant, during pregnancy, or while breastfeeding.
Effectiveness
When taken correctly, PEP can reduce the risk of HIV transmission by almost 80% It’s still important to use condoms, other barrier methods, and cautious injection practices	Daily PrEP can reduce the risk of HIV transmission from sex by more than 90%

If you are taking PEP now and you think you might need protection again in the coming weeks and months, you can talk to your doctors about switching to PrEP at the end of the course.

And if you have needed PEP sometime in the past, especially if you’ve needed it more than once, it’s worth thinking about whether PrEP might be a good option for you going forward

How to prevent condom breaks?

DO use water based lubricants such as KY jelly.
DO use proper sized condoms.
DO hold onto the condom when withdrawing.
DO store condoms in a cool dry place.
DO NOT reuse a condom.
DO NOT open the condom package with your teeth, keys or any sharp object.
DO NOT unroll the condom before putting it on.
DO NOT wear 2 condoms at once. Friction can cause breakage.
DO NOT use oil based lubricants such as Vaseline. This can weaken the latex.
DO NOT use expired condoms.

PULSE CLINICS recommended to use KOCITAF as Emergency PEP to prevent HIV infection
talk to our doctor to get KOCITAF and strictly take KOCITAF as prescribed by the doctor.

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