You might’ve heard of PrEP and PEP, but maybe you’re not sure exactly what they do — or what’s the difference between them.

PrEP and PEP are the two main types of antiretroviral treatment used to protect against HIV transmission.

PrEP, or pre-exposure prophylaxis, is taken before possible HIV exposure. It’s available as the brand-name pills Truvada and Descovy.

PEP, or post-exposure prophylaxis, is taken after possible HIV exposure. It requires you to take more than one medication.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends a combination of:

  • tenofovir disoproxil (taken once daily)
  • emtricitibine (taken once daily)
  • raltegravir (taken twice daily) or dolutegravir (taken once daily)

If you think PrEP or PEP might be right for you, you should talk with your healthcare provider about the available options.

With the following infographic, you can learn more about:

  • who these medications are for
  • how effective and safe they are
  • where they’re available

It will help illuminate some of the facts about PrEP and PEP.

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Infographic by Maya Chastain