HIV Prevention (PrEP)
PrEP is a medication available at SCMC to prevent HIV transmission through sex or drug use. It's effective and available for insured and uninsured individuals. Side effects are temporary. Visit the provided CDC link below for more information and a helpful video.
Contents
What is PrEP:
PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) is a medication for people at risk for HIV to help prevent getting HIV from sex or injection drug use.
When taken as prescribed, PrEP is highly effective for preventing HIV infection.
PrEP is for Insured or Uninsured Patients
We are able to help you get PrEP, no matter what your insurance status is. If you have health insurance, PrEP prescription and exams are covered by your health insurance. If you don’t have health insurance, are underinsured, or even if you are undocumented, we are able to help you.
Just give us a call at (818) 650-6700 to talk to a certified PrEP coordinator in English, Spanish or Farsi.
All the calls, visits and history of your visits are confidential.
Is PrEP safe?
PrEP is safe but some people experience side effects like diarrhea, nausea, headache, fatigue, and stomach pain. These side effects usually go away over time.
Is PrEP right for me?
PrEP may be right for you if you test negative for HIV, and any of the following apply to you:
You have had anal or vaginal sex in the past 6 months and you:
– Have a sexual partner with HIV (especially if the partner has an unknown or undetectable viral load),
– Have not consistently used a condom, or
– have been diagnosed with an STD in the past 6 months.
You inject drugs and you:
– have an injection partner with HIV, or
– share needles, syringes, or other equipment to inject drugs (for example, cookers).
You have been prescribed PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) and you:
– report continued risky behavior, or
– have used multiple courses of PEP
If you are a woman and have a partner with HIV and are considering getting pregnant, talk to your doctor about PrEP if you’re not already taking it. PrEP may be an option to help protect you and your baby from getting HIV while you try to get pregnant, during pregnancy, or while breastfeeding.
For more information about PrEP please visit:
https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/basics/prep/prep-decision.html
The website linked above has a very helpful video available.
