What is PrEP?
PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) is medicine taken to prevent a person from getting HIV from sex or injection drug use. Truvada and Descovy are two FDA-approved medications for PrEP.
PrEP Facts
PrEP is:
- A daily pill taken to prevent HIV
- 99% effective at preventing HIV infection from sexual contact and 74% effective at preventing HIV infection from injection drug use
- FDA approved since 2012
- For people who do not have HIV
- Safe for those pregnant and breastfeeding
- For all genders and sexualities
- Covered by most insurance including Medicaid and Medicare
PrEP is Not:
- Used to prevent pregnancy or prevent other STD/STIs
- A medication you have to take the rest of your life
- A vaccine
- Only for gay men
More PrEP Information and Resources
CDC PrEP facts
Paying for PrEP
Ready, Set, PrEP
Get a free in-home HIV test kit
Find a PrEP provider in Allegheny County on the map below! If you are outside the Allegheny County area, you can search for providers (and other HIV services) at https://locator.aids.gov/map.
Not sure if PrEP is right for you?
You can take a Sexual Health Assessment provided by the Allegheny County Health Department.
The assessment can help you to understand the kinds of situations that might put you at risk for exposure to HIV. The assessment will also explain other ways you can prevent HIV infection, in addition to taking PrEP.
Still on the fence? Find out more about PrEP for women in the video below from Project Inform and HIVE (a project of the University of California San Francisco).Here’s another helpful video from the CDC…
The information and resources compiled on this page were done through the work of the Data-to-PrEP program at the University of Pittsburgh.
In collaboration with the Pennsylvania Department of Health and the Allegheny County Health Department, this CDC-funded demonstration project focused on expanding HIV prevention and PrEP access to those living in Allegheny County.
Questions? Email the project coordinator at hdr6@pitt.edu.