WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT PEP?

So, if I take PEP I won't become HIV positive?

Research indicates that taking PEP makes infection with HIV a lot less likely. But PEP doesn't work every time - some people who take it still end up with HIV afterwards. It can fail because:

• some anti-HIV drugs don't work against some strains of HIV
• the initial viral load (amount of HIV) in the body was too great
• the virus was replicating too rapidly for the drugs or the body's immune system to control
• the body's immune system is already damaged.

However, the sooner PEP treatment is begun after exposure to the virus, the more likely it is to work.

How soon should I get PEP?

The sooner PEP is started after exposure to HIV the better. The longer you wait, the more chance there is that PEP won't work. PEP usually isn't given more than 72 hours (3 days) after exposure as studies show it is unlikely to be effective after this time.

Does PEP have side effects?

Yes. PEP can cause diarrhoea, headaches, nausea and vomiting. These side effects stop once you have finished taking the drugs. One Australian study revealed that 2 out of 3 people taking PEP experienced mild to moderate side effects and 1 in 4 people taking PEP experienced severe side effects.

Things to remember about PEP:

• PEP is not a simple morning-after pill: it is a month-long course of drug treatments
• PEP treatment must begin within 72 hours of exposure to HIV - the sooner the better
• PEP has common side-effects including nausea and diarrhoea
• PEP is not guaranteed to work.