The short answer is anyone that is HIV negative and vulnerable to getting HIV. PrEP can be prescribed for gay and bisexual men, for heterosexual men and women, for transgender individuals, and for genderqueer or nonbinary people. PrEP can also help people who inject drugs stay HIV-negative. PrEP is for adolescents and adults.

You should consider PrEP if:

• You don’t always use condoms when you have anal or vaginal intercourse. “Always” means every time, not sometimes.
• You don’t always ask your partner(s) to wear a condom.
• You have been diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection in the last six months.
• You’re unsure of the HIV status of your sexual partners.
• You're in a relationship with an HIV-positive partner who may or may not be on HIV treatment.
• You are a person who injects drugs, or you’re in a sexual relationship with a person who injects drugs.
• You’re HIV-negative and interested in PrEP.

It means taking your pills daily or getting your shot monthly, filling your prescription as needed and getting tested for HIV and other STIs regularly.

Most people who take PrEP say they haven’t had any side effects, but like with any drug, there are some reported side effects to consider.

Short term: Approximately 10% of people taking PrEP initially experience mild side effects, such as nausea, diarrhea and headaches. These tend to go away quickly.

Long Term: A small number of people taking PrEP may experience changes in their kidney function and in their bone density. These side effects are not common and may be even less frequent with newer medications coming onto the market.

It is important to see your health care provider regularly so they can monitor you for all potential side effects and help you stay healthy.

PrEP should be covered by your health insurance. California has a PrEP Assistance Program (PrEP-AP) that covers out-of-pocket expenses for the medication for insured patients and the cost of medication, clinical visits or telemedical consults, and lab tests (including HIV testing and STI testing) regardless of health insurance coverage.

You can learn more about PrEP-AP here.

In addition, Gilead Sciences (the manufacturer of Truvada) has a prescription assistance program. If you do not have health insurance or have questions about how to pay for PrEP, you can ask us so schedule an appointment.

PrEP does not prevent any other STIs such as Gonorrhea, Syphilis, Herpes or Hepatitis C. So, if you’re concerned about getting or transmitting STIs, you should use condoms.