Each of the medical providers at the Decker Student Health Services Center (DSHSC) are able to prescribe Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP). It is medicine that reduces the chances of getting HIV from sex or injection drug use when there is a continuing risk of exposure to HIV.
PrEP is different from Post-exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) and is meant for those that have continued risk of exposure to HIV.
Who should take PrEP for HIV infection?
PrEP can help protect you if you don't have HIV and any of the following apply:
- You have engaged in anal or vaginal sex in the last six months and any of the following
apply:
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- You have not consistently used a condom OR
- You have been diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection within the last six months OR
- You have a sexual partner with HIV
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- You inject drugs AND
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- You have an injection partner with HIV OR
- You share needles, syringes or other drug injection equipment.
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- You have been prescribed Post-exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) AND
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- You have continued to engage in risky behavior OR
- You have used multiple courses of PEP
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- You may ask your provider to prescribe PrEP even if none of these risk factors apply to you.
How do I get PrEP at the DSHSC?
All of the medical providers at the DSHSC are capable or prescribing PrEP. Schedule your appointment for PrEP by using the patient portal, choosing the clinic "Decker Student health Services Center," and select the appointment reason "PrEP (Pre-exposure Prophylaxis for HIV) - Telehealth appontment," or "PrEP (Pre-exposure Prophylaxis for HIV) - in-person appointment."
PrEP considerations
Under the Affordable Care act, PrEP must be free under almost all health insurance plans. Speak to the person who gets the insurance for your family – this person is refered to by the insurance company as the "insured" person on the policy. They will receive and Explanation of Benefits from the insurance company a few weeks after you use insurance to get the PrEP blood work or the PrEP medications.
If you DO NOT HAVE INSURANCE, be sure to review the Center for Disease Control (CDC)'s website on "Paying for PrEP."
Before you are prescribed PrEP, you will need several blood tests – some of these tests will needs to be repeated every 3–12 months.
Once you are prescribed PrEP, you will need to visit your prescriber every two to three months for follow-up visits, prescription refills or shots and HIV testing.
PrEP can be administered as:
- One pill, taken orally, once a day
- At least two hours before you have sex and once a day for the following two days (called On-Demand PrEP)
- A once a month injection
