Who is PEP for?

PEP is for any HIV-negative person who has experienced a high-risk situation for HIV exposure within the last 72 hours.

If you think you are in this situation, the first thing to do is to consult a healthcare professional without any delay. A professional assessment is always necessary to determine if PEP is the right solution for you.

What types of risks can justify PEP?

The assessment will focus on exposures that present a significant risk of HIV transmission. The most common examples include:

• Sexual exposures: Anal or vaginal intercourse without a condom, a condom breaking, or sexual assault.
• Blood-related exposures: Sharing injection material or an accidental injury with a potentially contaminated object.

Risk assessment: an essential step

Before prescribing PEP, the healthcare professional must evaluate the actual level of risk. This confidential discussion takes into account factors like the type of exposure, the status of the source partner (if known, and if their viral load is undetectable, U=U), and your own HIV status, confirmed by a rapid test.

In which cases is PEP generally not indicated?

• If you are already on PrEP with good adherence.
• If the exposure occurred more than 72 hours ago.
• If the risk is judged to be very low or nil after assessment (e.g., oral sex).
• If you are already living with HIV (a full treatment regimen is needed then, not PEP).

The key message is: when in doubt, consult immediately. It is better to have a consultation for nothing than to leave a risk unmanaged.