Frequently asked questions

If you are planning to stop having sex, you may wish to stop daily dosing PrEP. PrEP is very flexible if your circumstances change. Before you stop, cis men* should carry on taking PrEP for another two sex-free days. Everyone else should carry on taking PrEP for seven sex-free days. This includes when PrEP is being taken for vaginal/frontal protection. *Cis man refers to anyone who was born male and who still identifies as a man.

No. The drugs used for PrEP do not prevent COVID-19. They do not work to treat COVID-19. Please do not increase your regular PrEP to prevent or treat COVID-19. Do not share PrEP with anyone to prevent or treat COVID-19.

Only cis men* who have sex with other men can safely change from daily dosing to Event Based PrEP. Anyone who also has Hepatitis B infection should take daily PrEP. Everyone else, including for vaginal/frontal protection, can only use daily dosing. Event Based PrEP is not suitable. For more information on Event Based PrEP please see the PrEPster website: www.prepster.info/ebp If you can use event-based PrEP, this involves: Taking a double dose 2 to 24 hours before sex. Taking a single pill every 24 hours, until you’ve had 2 sex free days. For example, if you have sex once, this will involve a double dose before sex. Then a second pill after 24 and 48 hours. Total = 4 pills. *Cis man refers to anyone who was born male and who still identifies as a man.

If you have not had sex since stopping, then it’s okay to start PrEP as usual. If you’re a cis man, you should take a double dose 2 to 24 hours before sex if you want to have sex straight away. You can then continue with either daily dosing or event-based dosing (see above). Everyone else should take daily doses for seven days before sex. This includes for vaginal/frontal protection.

If you have the chance to have sex, event based PrEP will be okay – but only if you are able to use this option. Not everyone can use EBP safely so check here for more information: https://www.prepster.info/ebp If you have sex and you didn’t use PrEP, you can still use PEP. This involves using a daily combination of three HIV drugs for one month. You can find out more about PEP here: https://www.hiv.scot/Pages/FAQs/Category/pep