PEP

Say you’ve had an all-night fuck fest, and you’re not entirely sure if condoms got used with everyone? Not sure of what’s -his-names’ status?

No matter the situation, if for any reason you’re not sure you’re protected while fucking – ask about PEP sooner rather than later. If you’re not sure about rushing to the doctor, call the PEP Phoneline on 1800 889 887  for advice from a health professional. The phone line is operated 9-5 on weekdays. Outside those hours, find your nearest PEP provider on the GET PEP website.

If you’re fucking partners who have a detectable viral load or whose status you don’t know you might need PEP if you:

• Use condoms and the condom doesn’t get used the whole time or comes off
• Can’t be sure if the top used a condom
• Wake up the next day, and can’t remember who you’ve fucked or whether condoms were used
• Take On Demand PrEP and think you might have missed a dose
• Shared injecting equipment including needles, tourniquets, swabs, and water

PEP is different to PrEP.

PEP is post-exposure prophylaxis. You can take PEP after sex if you think you’ve been exposed to HIV. 

PrEP is pre-exposure prophylaxis. You can take PrEP drugs before sex to protect you from HIV.

If you’re already on PrEP you don’t need PEP.

If your partner/s have an undetectable viral load you don’t need PEP

If you have taken PEP a couple of times, PrEP might be a way for you fuck the way you want to fuck without the stress.

If you think you might need PEP, you can find your nearest place to get PEP on the GET PEP website.

Your doctor will ask you some questions about why you might need to get PEP. Try to be as honest as possible with them. It may seem invasive asking about who did what to who, and who came in who – but there are certain situations where answering these questions may mean you don’t actually need to get PEP. Say, you fucked a partner who is undetectable – this would mean you’re protected from HIV and don’t need PEP. Did you know the HIV risk for oral sex is SO low, that doctors will recommend you don’t need PEP?

The doctor will take a blood test and give you some medication to take every day for a month. It’s important to take the medication they give you as directed until it’s all gone. PEP isn’t a guarantee, but if you take it as prescribed you’ve got the best odds at remaining HIV-negative.

The doctor will suggest you come back for a follow up sexual health test. You don’t need to go to the same place. If you’ve had to go to a hospital to get PEP you can head to your regular sexual health doctor for your next test.

The anti-HIV drugs you’ll be prescribed as PEP have been used both to treat HIV, and to prevent it (like with PrEP) for many many years. Most times, side effects from PEP are very minimal. Some people get a bit of an upset stomach or headaches. If you experience side effects, they usually subside within a week or so. It’s important to keep at the medication rather than stop. A few weeks of the runs might be unpleasant, but you’ll only have to take the meds for a month. Stopping leaves you at risk of becoming HIV-positive and taking medications for life.

If you experience side effects that are the fucking worst, literally, head back to your doctor for some advice on minimising side effects. One idea might be to take your meds at a different time of day – at night rather than in the morning. Try to take your PEP with food too.