Before starting PrEP

On the day of or just before starting PrEP you’ll need to have a few tests.

Ideally, we’d like you to have:

1. A full sexually transmitted infections (STI) screen. We recommend a full STI screen every 3 months – even if you don’t have any symptoms.
2. An HIV antibody antigen test at your local clinic. These tests have a much shorter window period than other tests – they can give an accurate result 4 weeks after potential exposure to HIV. It’s a good idea to repeat the HIV test after 4 weeks to make sure an acute or recent infection was not missed by the first test.
3. A hepatitis B test, to rule out an active hep B infection. The the drugs in PrEP can also suppress the hep B virus and we’d take this into consideration when helping you start or more importantly stop taking PrEP.
4. A blood test to check your kidney function. In a very small number of people PrEP can damage renal (kidney) function. This is rare and usual only in people with existing kidney problems or taking other medication that may affect their kidneys.

Managing PrEP yourself

We understand that you might manage your PrEP routine on your own. You may have bought generic PrEP online because you can’t access NHS provision.

We want to help you do this the best we can.

If you are in this situation, the only thing you really need before starting PrEP is an HIV antibody antigen test at your local sexual health clinic, again repeated in 4 weeks. Most people should be able to access this at the very least.

If you have used an HIV self test, you’ll still need to visit your local clinic to get the result confirmed.

And again a full STI screen every 3 months is recommended – even if you don’t have any symptoms.

Ask about your vaccinations for hepatitis A, hepatitis B and HPV.

You can also use our PrEP tool, which will help you assess your current PrEP routine.

Getting sexual health clinic support

Team PrEPster have created a fantastic downloadable document for you to take to your sexual health clinic if you’re asking for support about PrEP use.

Remember that some frontline staff in the NHS – such as reception staff – might not be fully aware of PrEP, especially if their clinic currently does not offer PrEP support.

Many other NHS staff will know about PrEP, and support it, but might be unaware of what support they are able to offer.

Facts about drug resistance

If you are HIV negative and taking PrEP, as long as you stay negative you don’t have to worry about drug resistance.

Your body does not ‘get used to the PrEP’ and stop protecting you from HIV. (Don’t worry, we know it is common for people to get confused about this.)

You can only develop drug resistance if you actually have HIV in your system – if you’re HIV positive. That’s why it’s so important to make sure you’re definitely HIV negative before you take PrEP.

Drug resistance can happen to people living with HIV, where the virus in your body develops a resistance to drugs. It is not your body developing a resistance to the PrEP medication.

Take PrEP – stay negative.

Our PrEP tool is here to help

We’ve developed three quizzes that will help you decide when to start and stop PrEP, and manage your PrEP routine and sexual health.