Is PrEP hard on your body?

No, PrEP is considered a very safe treatment and is very well-tolerated by the vast majority of people.

The benefit-to-risk ratio is overwhelmingly in favor of taking PrEP for people at risk. The benefit of preventing HIV far outweighs the risks of side effects, which are rare and well-managed with proper follow-up.

Why does this question come up often?

The concern mainly stems from discussions around the first generation of oral PrEP, tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF), which is found in Truvada® and its generics. Studies have shown that TDF can, in rare cases, have an impact on the kidneys and bones.

• On the kidneys: It can cause a slight decrease in kidney filtration, which is reversible upon discontinuation, generally minor, and not clinically significant in healthy individuals.
• On the bones: It can be associated with a small decrease in bone mineral density (about 1-2%), which is rarely problematic, often reversible, and below the threshold for increased fracture risk.

It is important to contextualize this risk. It is primarily a concern for older individuals or those with pre-existing health issues (kidney disease, poorly controlled diabetes, bone fragility, or hypertension). For healthy people, the rigorous follow-up we provide, including monitoring your kidney function, makes using PrEP very safe.

The newer PrEP options: even fewer risks

Science has advanced. Newer PrEP options have been specifically developed to minimize these risks:

• Oral PrEP with TAF (Descovy®): This newer version of tenofovir (tenofovir alafenamide) is not associated with particular risks to the kidneys or bones.
• Injectable PrEP (Apretude®): Injectable cabotegravir works differently and has no known impact on kidney function or bone density.

In summary, not only is PrEP very safe, but there are now several options, allowing us to choose with you the one that is the most suitable and safest for your body and your situation.