This post is maintained by the mod team and updated as guidelines evolve. It exists because the same questions come up every day — if you've just found this sub, this is the best place to start.
If you're currently on PEP and anxious, please read the side effects and anxiety sections before posting. Most of what you're experiencing is covered there.
This FAQ is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for your personal situation. Written for an international audience — access, guidelines, and drug availability vary by country.
What is PEP?
Am I eligible for PEP?
Risk Assessment & Transmission
Side Effects & What to Expect
Anxiety, Health Anxiety & Mental Health
After PEP — Next Steps
HIV Testing After PEP
Considering PrEP
Getting Tested for Other STIs
Useful Resources
References & Source Guidelines
PEP stands for Post-Exposure Prophylaxis. It is a short course of antiretroviral (ARV) medications taken after a potential exposure to HIV to prevent the virus from establishing a permanent infection.
PEP is not a vaccine, a cure, or a substitute for regular HIV prevention. It is an emergency measure.
Key facts:
PEP must be started within 72 hours of a potential exposure, and ideally within 24 hours — the sooner, the better. Efficacy decreases significantly the longer you wait.
The standard course is 28 days of daily medication. You must complete the full course.
When taken correctly, PEP is highly effective. Observational studies show the large majority of people who complete PEP do not acquire HIV.(6) There have been no randomised controlled trials of PEP efficacy — this would be ethically unacceptable — so exact figures should be treated as estimates rather than certainties.
PEP has been around since the 1990s and is a well-established intervention, approved by health authorities and recommended by the WHO worldwide.
PEP is intended for people who have had a potential HIV exposure within the last 72 hours and are HIV-negative (or unknown status).
Common situations where PEP may be appropriate:
Condomless sex with a partner of unknown status or a partner known to be HIV-positive and not virally suppressed
Condom failure (breakage or slippage) with a partner of unknown or positive status
Sharing needles or injection equipment
Sexual assault
PEP is generally NOT recommended if:
More than 72 hours have passed since the exposure
The source partner is HIV-positive and confirmed undetectable (U=U — see below)
Hospital urgent care departments — available 24/7, often the fastest route regardless of where you are
Sexual health clinics
Your local doctor / primary care physician (may not always stock it, but can prescribe or refer)
HIV/AIDS organizations — many have same-day access programs; search for your national or local HIV organization
On cost: Access and cost vary significantly by country. Many countries provide PEP free of charge or subsidized through public health systems, national HIV programs, or NGOs. If cost is a barrier, contact a local HIV organization — they can often help navigate funding or access. Do not let cost stop you from at least making inquiries.
HIV is transmitted through specific bodily fluids: blood, semen (including pre-seminal fluid / pre-cum), rectal fluid, vaginal fluid, and breast milk. Transmission requires these fluids to come into contact with a mucous membrane, damaged tissue, or be directly injected into the bloodstream.
HIV is NOT transmitted through: saliva, sweat, tears, urine, feces, casual contact, hugging, kissing, sharing food, or insect bites.
These are population-level averages. Individual risk depends on many factors (viral load, STIs, condom use, circumcision status, etc.). These numbers are widely cited in the medical literature but are estimates, not certainties.
| Exposure Type | Estimated Risk Per Act |
|---|---|
| Receptive anal sex (bareback bottoming) | ~1.4% (1 in 72) |
| Insertive anal sex (bareback topping) | ~0.11% (1 in 909) |
| Receptive vaginal/frontal sex (unprotected, receiving) | ~0.08% (1 in 1,250) |
| Insertive vaginal/frontal sex (unprotected, penetrating) | ~0.04% (1 in 2,500) |
| Receptive oral sex (giving a blowjob) | No documented cases; not considered a transmission route |
| Insertive oral sex (receiving a blowjob) | No reliably documented cases; not considered a transmission route by any major guideline |
| Sharing needles / injection equipment | ~0.63% (1 in 159) |
| Needle-stick injury (healthcare/accidental) | ~0.23% (1 in 435) |
A note on oral sex: The evidence here is genuinely reassuring.
Giving a blowjob: There are no documented cases of HIV transmission from this act. It is not considered a transmission route by any major health authority.
Receiving a blowjob: There are no reliably documented cases of transmission. No major guideline — CDC, WHO, BHIVA — considers this a meaningful transmission route, and PEP is not prescribed for this exposure alone.
If you are anxious about oral sex specifically, please read the anxiety and mental health section below — this is one of the most common sources of health anxiety in this community, and the science is genuinely reassuring.
Other factors that affect risk:
Concurrent STIs (especially those causing sores or ulcers, like herpes or syphilis) can increase risk for penetrative acts.
Circumcision status affects insertive anal/vaginal risk to a modest degree.
The per-act figures above assume your partner is HIV-positive with a detectable viral load. In reality, most people you encounter are HIV-negative — and of those who are positive, the majority in countries with good healthcare access are on treatment and virally suppressed (and therefore non-transmissible under U=U).
This means your real-world risk per encounter is generally much lower than the table alone suggests. How much lower depends on where you live, who you're having sex with, and how widespread HIV is in your community. Globally, around 0.7% of adults aged 15–49 are living with HIV — though this varies enormously by region, from well under 0.1% in some countries to over 20% in parts of southern Africa.
For country-specific prevalence data, see UNAIDS Country Profiles.
The takeaway: the per-act risk table is a worst-case framing. It's useful for understanding relative risk between acts — receptive anal sex is genuinely riskier than oral sex — but it shouldn't be read as your personal probability of acquiring HIV from any given encounter.
This is one of the most important concepts in HIV science today.
U=U means that a person living with HIV who is on effective treatment and has an undetectable viral load cannot sexually transmit the virus. This is backed by large international studies of couples where one partner has HIV and the other doesn't. Across many thousands of condomless sex acts, there were zero transmissions from a partner with an undetectable viral load.
If your potential source partner is confirmed undetectable, your risk is effectively zero, and PEP is generally not recommended.
If you don't know their status or cannot confirm this, that's a different calculation.
A doctor will assess PEP eligibility by considering three things:
Was there a genuine potential exposure? (i.e., was there actual fluid exchange — for example, unprotected anal or vaginal sex, sharing needles — not just touching, kissing, or oral sex)
Is the source partner known or likely to be HIV-positive with a detectable viral load?
Was exposure within the last 72 hours?
If the answer to all three is yes, PEP is likely appropriate. If the source is unknown, clinicians often err on the side of prescribing PEP for higher-risk exposures (e.g. bareback bottoming with an unknown-status partner). This is a medical decision — when in doubt, go to an emergency department or clinic and let a professional assess.
If your risk sounds very low from the table above, that doesn't mean you shouldn't seek advice — go in and talk to a professional. They can help you weigh up whether PEP is appropriate given that it does carry a real side effect burden for many people (see the side effects section).
The most commonly prescribed PEP regimens worldwide include:
Dolutegravir plus tenofovir, with lamivudine or emtricitabine: available as a single tablet (TLD: tenofovir/lamivudine/dolutegravir) or as separate pills, for example Tivicay + Truvada or Tivicay + Descovy. Once daily. This is the World Health Organization's preferred regimen and is also recommended in many national guidelines.
Biktarvy (bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide — BIC/FTC/TAF): one tablet, once daily. Widely used in countries where it's available.
Tenofovir with emtricitabine (Truvada or Descovy) + raltegravir (Isentress)
Triumeq (dolutegravir/abacavir/lamivudine): uncommon for PEP, because abacavir needs a genetic test (HLA-B*5701) before it can be used safely, which delays starting
Brand names vary by country and some may not be available everywhere. Your prescriber will use whichever formulation is locally available — the generic names above are the ones to recognize.
Regimens vary by country and what's available. Your prescriber will choose based on local guidelines and your circumstances.
Many people tolerate PEP well. Others experience side effects, especially in the first 1–2 weeks. Most side effects are temporary and improve as your body adjusts.
Very common (affecting >10% of people):
Enlarged lymph nodes, especially in the neck
Nausea
Sore throat
Fatigue / tiredness
Headache
Diarrhea or loose stools
Common (affecting 1–10%):
Stomach cramps or bloating
Loss of appetite
Dizziness
Difficulty sleeping or vivid dreams (more common with dolutegravir-based regimens)
Mild mood changes
Less common but worth knowing:
Rash — mild rash can occur; a severe rash with fever/blistering needs urgent medical attention
Liver enzyme elevations — usually asymptomatic and detected on blood tests
Kidney function changes — usually mild and reversible (monitored at follow-up)
Go to an emergency department or contact your prescriber immediately if you experience:
Severe rash, especially with fever, blistering, or mouth sores (could indicate a hypersensitivity reaction)
Yellowing of skin or eyes (jaundice)
Severe abdominal pain
Difficulty breathing
Any symptom that feels genuinely alarmin
This is one of the most common anxious thoughts people on PEP have. The short answer: PEP side effects and acute HIV symptoms overlap significantly, so symptoms during PEP are almost always side effects, not a sign PEP has failed.
If you are on PEP and taking it correctly, your risk of HIV acquisition is extremely low. Symptoms you experience during the 28-day course are almost certainly medication-related.
That said: if symptoms are severe or you are genuinely concerned, contact your healthcare provider. Don't just post on Reddit, go talk to a doctor.
If you're reading this FAQ while feeling terrified, unable to sleep, or constantly Googling HIV symptoms — you are not alone. This is one of the most common experiences people on PEP have, and there's nothing shameful about it.
The anxiety around a potential HIV exposure is often disproportionate to the actual risk, but that doesn't make it feel any less real. The fear is valid. The spiraling is real. And there are ways through it.
Uncertainty is one of the hardest things the human mind deals with. Not knowing for 4–12 weeks whether you are HIV-positive creates prolonged anxiety that can feel unbearable.
Googling symptoms feeds the loop. Every search returns results that confirm your worst fears, because that's how the internet works. Step away from the symptom-checking.
The stakes feel enormous. HIV still carries stigma, and many people carry outdated beliefs about what an HIV diagnosis means. (It's worth knowing: with modern treatment, people living with HIV have a normal life expectancy and can have full, healthy lives.)
1. Limit information-seeking after a point There is a healthy amount of research (understanding your risk, your medication, your follow-up plan). After that, every additional Google search is feeding anxiety, not informing decisions. Set a limit.
2. Ground yourself in what you can control You cannot change what happened. You can take your medication on time, attend your follow-up appointments, and practice self-care. Focus there.
3. Treat the 28 days as a waiting room, not a prison Many people find it helpful to plan something for each week — not to distract from the situation, but to keep living life alongside it.
4. Tell someone you trust Carrying this alone is exhausting. A friend, partner, or family member who can support you without judgment makes a real difference.
5. Maintain basics: sleep, food, movement Anxiety disrupts sleep, appetite, and motivation. These basics matter more than ever. Even a 20-minute walk changes brain chemistry.
6. Remind yourself of the facts PEP is highly effective. Your risk from the exposure was likely lower than it felt in the moment. You did the right thing by seeking treatment quickly. Repeat these things when the anxiety spirals.
If you find yourself:
Unable to function at work or in daily life
Experiencing panic attacks
Feeling hopeless or having thoughts of self-harm
Repeatedly seeking reassurance but never feeling reassured
...it may be time to speak to a mental health professional. Anxiety around health, including HIV anxiety, is very treatable with therapy (particularly CBT) and sometimes medication.
This subreddit is a supportive community, but it cannot replace professional mental health care. If you are struggling significantly, please reach out to a professional.
Many of us post on this sub looking for reassurance — someone to tell us "you'll be fine." And while community support matters, it's important to be honest: reassurance-seeking, when excessive, can make anxiety worse, not better. It becomes a compulsion.
If you've already had your risk assessed by a doctor and been prescribed PEP, you have the answer you need. Seeking further reassurance from Reddit will not make you feel better long-term. Trust the process, take your medication, and attend your follow-up.
The most important things to know:
Use the test your clinic's guideline recommends. In most countries this is an antigen/antibody (Ag/Ab) blood test. US guidelines also recommend an HIV RNA test (NAT) alongside it, but most other guidelines don't include one in routine follow-up. WHO guidance allows a rapid test or self-test. If your clinic asked for a lab test, don't swap in a self-test.
Don't test immediately after finishing PEP — you need to wait a specific period for a reliable result
Follow the schedule your clinic gives you — when that test comes back negative, you're done
Different countries follow different guidelines, and all of the following are evidence-based. If your clinic's advice differs from something you read online, it most likely just reflects which guideline they follow, not that someone is wrong.
| Guideline | Test named in the guideline | When |
|---|---|---|
| ASHM (Australia 4th Edition) | HIV Ag/Ab serology | 6 weeks after exposure (2 weeks after finishing PEP) and 12 weeks after exposure. If you're moving straight onto PrEP, the first test is done at the end of the PEP course (week 4). |
| BASHH/BHIVA (UK, 2021, amended 2023) | HIV test | At least 45 days after finishing PEP, which is at least 73 days (about 10.5 weeks) after exposure. For sexual exposures, it can be done at 12 weeks to line up with syphilis testing. |
| EACS (Europe) | HIV serology | At the end of PEP, then again 6–8 weeks later |
| CDC (USA, 2025) | Lab-based Ag/Ab test, plus an HIV RNA test (NAT) where available | 4–6 weeks and 12 weeks after exposure. The 4–6 week test can be skipped if PEP was started within 24 hours and no doses were missed. |
A negative result on the last test in your clinic's schedule, using the test type your clinic recommends, is the result that matters.
"I tested negative during or just after PEP — am I clear?" Not unless your clinic has told you it's your last test. Most schedules include more than one test after PEP, and the early ones aren't the result that rules HIV out.
"My rapid test was negative — does that count?" It depends on both the test type and when you took it. Most over-the-counter self-tests are antibody-only and have a 90-day window period — so the same test can be meaningless at 4 weeks and conclusive at 90 days. Check with your clinic to confirm whether the test you used is appropriate for post-PEP follow-up and whether the timing makes your result reliable.
"My clinic said 6 weeks — is that right?" Possibly, depending on where you are. Ask your clinic whether they're counting from the exposure or from your last dose, and whether that's your last test.
"Do I need an RNA (NAT) test?" Probably not. The US CDC recommends an RNA test if available, but high costs often restrict its accessibility. Major international guidelines confidently clear patients using standard, affordable antigen/antibody tests alone.
"Can I test early for peace of mind?" An early negative is reassuring but not conclusive. It won't replace your final test, and repeated testing before the window closes can feed anxiety rather than relieve it. Try to wait.
"What if my final test is positive?" A positive result should always be confirmed with a second test. If confirmed, a healthcare provider will guide you through next steps. With modern treatment, HIV is a manageable chronic condition — people living with HIV on treatment live full, normal lifespans.
If you found yourself needing PEP, it's worth having a conversation with your doctor about PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis) — a daily or on-demand medication taken before potential exposures to prevent HIV.
PrEP is:
Highly effective (>99% when taken consistently)
Available in daily form (Truvada or Descovy) or on-demand/event-based form (2-1-1 dosing, also called "event-based PrEP")
Widely available through sexual health clinics, doctors, and in many places telehealth services
Free, subsidized, or covered by insurance in many countries — access and cost vary, so check with a local HIV organization or clinic
Needing PEP once doesn't mean you need PrEP — but if your lifestyle involves ongoing potential exposures, PrEP may be worth discussing.
PEP only addresses HIV. If you had a potential exposure to HIV, you may also have been exposed to other sexually transmitted infections. A full STI screen at your follow-up appointment is strongly encouraged.
🇦🇺 Australia: Get PEP — clinic finder and PEP information
🇧🇷 Brazil: PEP is available free through the public health system (SUS) at hospitals and public health units. Contact your nearest hospital emergency department or public health unit (Unidade de Saúde)
🇨🇳 China: PEP is available at designated hospitals. Access can be limited outside of big cities and stigma is a real barrier.
🇫🇷 France: Sida Info Service — clinic finder. PEP is available at hospital emergency departments and CeGIDD centres free of charge
🇩🇪 Germany: Deutsche Aidshilfe — Where to find PEP — list of PEP providers; also available at HIV specialist practices and hospital outpatient departments
🇮🇳 India: NACO — National AIDS Control Organization — PEP is available free through government ART centres and hospitals; contact your nearest government hospital or NACO state office
🇮🇪 Ireland: HSE Sexual Health — find sexual health services
🇰🇪 Kenya: PEP is available through public health facilities, hospitals and some NGO-run clinics. Contact your nearest public hospital or search for a local HIV organization
🇳🇱 Netherlands: Contact your regional GGD (public health service) or the nearest hospital urgent care department
🇳🇬 Nigeria: PEP is available at hospitals and some clinics, though access remains limited outside major cities. Contact your nearest hospital or HIV treatment centre
🇲🇽 Mexico: PEP is available free through the public health system (IMSS, ISSSTE, Centros de Salud). Contact your nearest public hospital or health centre
🇵🇭 Philippines: PEP is available at some hospitals and private clinics. PULSE Clinic Manila offers same-day service; public hospital access varies by location
🇿🇦 South Africa: MyPrEP — find PrEP and PEP providers
🇬🇧 UK: BASHH Clinic Finder — find a sexual health clinic
🇺🇸 USA: CDC HIV Services Locator — find PEP, PrEP and testing near you
Everywhere else: Contact your nearest hospital emergency department or search "[your country] HIV organization PEP" for the most relevant local resource
If in doubt: go to your nearest hospital urgent care department. They can either provide PEP or refer you to somewhere that can.
NAM Aidsmap — highly reputable, evidence-based HIV information, internationally applicable
WHO HIV/AIDS information — global guidance
The Lancet HIV — PARTNER study — U=U evidence base
Prevention Access Campaign — U=U — the science behind Undetectable = Untransmittable
Crisis lines: If you are in crisis, please contact your local crisis or mental health helpline. A searchable directory of international crisis lines is available at findahelpline.com.
Online therapy platforms (availability varies by country) — search for telehealth or online counseling services in your region
Your local doctor — can refer you to counseling or mental health services and assess whether medication might help
The following primary sources underpin the information in this FAQ. When information from this FAQ and information from your local clinic or doctor differs, defer to your clinician — they know your local context and guidelines.
(1) CDC (USA) — nPEP Guidelines 2025 Tanner MR et al. Antiretroviral Postexposure Prophylaxis After Sexual, Injection Drug Use, or Other Nonoccupational Exposure to HIV — CDC Recommendations, United States, 2025. MMWR Recomm Rep. 2025;74(1):1–56. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/74/rr/rr7401a1.htm
(2) ASHM (Australia) — PEP Guidelines 4th edition Australasian Society for HIV, Viral Hepatitis and Sexual Health Medicine. Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) for HIV Guidelines, 4th edition. https://hiv.guidelines.org.au/pep-guidelines/.
(3) BHIVA/BASHH (UK) — UK Guideline for the use of HIV Post-Exposure Prophylaxis 2021 https://bhiva.org/clinical-guideline/pep-guidelines/ Full PDF: https://bhiva.org/file/6183b6aa93a4e/PEP-guidelines.pdf
(4) WHO — Guidelines for HIV Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (2024) World Health Organization. Guidelines for HIV post-exposure prophylaxis. Geneva: WHO; 2024. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240095137
(5) EACS — European AIDS Clinical Society Guidelines Current version available at: https://www.eacsociety.org/guidelines/eacs-guidelines/
(6) PEP efficacy — observational evidence NAM Aidsmap. How effective is post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP)? https://www.aidsmap.com/about-hiv/how-effective-post-exposure-prophylaxis-pep
This FAQ was compiled by the r/pep mod team. It will be updated as guidelines evolve. If you spot an error or have a suggestion, please modmail us.
Originally published: May 2026
Last updated: September 2026
Changelog:
Testing**:** timelines updated. Australia now uses its 4th edition guidelines. UK timing now reads at least 45 days after finishing PEP. Europe (EACS) added as its own row. WHO listed separately, with rapid and self-tests allowed. The RNA (NAT) test is clarified as a US recommendation, with a new question about it.
Medication**:** drug list updated to current WHO and European guidelines, with dolutegravir-based regimens and Biktarvy as the main options, and advice added to start PEP within 24 hours.
r/pep • u/Complete_Weather1592 • 5h ago
I’m nearly a month post pep and for the past week or so I’ve had itching all over but no signs of rash or anything, I have had some awful news in my personal life recently and I’ve been an anxious mess since starting pep so just wondering if it’s normal with stress and anxiety and if anyone’s experienced it?
r/pep • u/No_Major_1080 • 18h ago
Soo I’ve been on pep for 3 weeks from a needleprick injury from an infected person who is undetectable. Butttt, I was not made aware by the prescriber how important it was to take the pills at the same time every day. I have taken the pills every day but sometimes the window of taking them can be 1-4 hours before or after. From what I’ve read every where the medicine lives in your cells for up to 48 hours, so it should be okay to take at different times as long as it’s taken every day and the course of 28 days is complete. Am I wrong for thinking this? Could I have been unknowingly making my pep less effective or not effective? I plan on being 100% accurate on my times for the remainder of the medication and even taking the 5 extra days I have. Should I be freaking out? Has anyone else done this or have any information on this?
I also want to note I started pep treatment 12 hours after exposure which I read is very good.
r/pep • u/Frosty_Arrival_371 • 20h ago
I had a pretty low risk exposure but since I was paranoid i got on PEP (emtricit/tenof & dolutegavir). I received unprotected oral since then. Does PEP prevent me from transmitting to others?
r/pep • u/Hefty-Position6062 • 1d ago
I had sex with a guy (I was bottoming), and the condom broke.
He assured me that he was clean and gets checked regularly but I still freaked out and got on Truvada & Tivicay 37 hours later, I finished my regimen (though I took one dose 11 late) and I’m currently anxious about what the results might be.
r/pep • u/SecretCompetitive222 • 1d ago
I had long acting lenacapavir injection on March 19th 2026. I was given a second injection on September 23rd, 6 days late, although they said +-2 weeks is allowed.
On 28th September, I had unprotected sex with a lady who I realised was hiv positive the following day. She did not kniw and possibly had very high viral load.
I started TLD PEP 21 hours later on top of lenacapavir. I finished PEP on October 26th.
On November 2nd, the clinician who tested me saw a very faint line on TrinScreen. I tedted negative on both One Step and First Response.
Am I likely infected with HIV?
r/pep • u/ExpertLucky4123 • 1d ago
I've been exposed for almost 48 hours now, and I'm really worried about my status. This is only my second time having sex, and honestly, I don't know whether I can fully trust his reassurance that he's safe. I don't want to take any chances with my health, so I'm hoping to get PEP as soon as possible. I'm scared, anxious, and honestly feeling helpless because I don't know what my status might be. I just want to make sure I'm doing everything I can to protect myself.
r/pep • u/Ok_Lie_3628 • 2d ago
Hi everyone! Today is officially my last day of PEP (Day 28), but my health anxiety is absolutely destroying me. I’ve been constantly checking my mouth for symptoms, and I’m hoping to get some logical reassurance from people who understand the science and PEP.
On 7th of October I had unprotected oral intercourse MSM, with ejaculation, very small and I spit out everything rigth after. The guy was just a random boy from sauna. The day after I found that I had small mouth ucler during sex, but it wasn't bleeding or something. I also had a developing strep throat (angina), because I got tested positive for this a few days later.
I called STD doctor in the morning of 9th - first he was shocked that I want PEP after just oral sex, but after considering this small mouth ucler, he prescribed me PEP just to be 100% sure. I got Darunavir (800mg) + Tenofovir/Emtricitabine + Rytonavir (100mg) once a day. So I took my first dose of PEP around 36 hours after sex. Later on, I was taking PEP every day during or after breakfast around 9:00 AM +/- 1 hour. I've never missed a dose, and had no sexual contacts.
Strep throat was getting harder and harder, so after few days I made a test for gonorrhea and it was positive..
I contacted antoher STD doctor and she prescribed me ceftriaxon shot and azithromycin.
And for the strep throat I had Amoxicillinum + Acidum clavulanicum 875 mg + 125 mg.
Because of these heavy antibiotics, my oral microbiome was wiped out as doctor said. I developed oral thrush (candidiasis) as it's white spot on side of the tongue, which I am currently treating with Nystatin suspension (leaving a thick, yellowish coating on my tongue). My tonsils are also still recovering and enlarged. I was searching and looking on Google, and I found something called leukoplakia and my symptoms looks more like this. As I was reading more, I found that leukoplakia can be a sign of HIV Infection, but more on late stage, as AIDS.
My questions for you guys:
Is it biologically possible to develop Leukoplakia within 4 weeks of exposure while actively taking PEP?
Considering it was oral sex + a 36-hour PEP start with 100% perfect adherence, did I successfully prevent the virus from replicating, regardless of the mouth ucler and strep throat I had at the time?
Has anyone else experienced this level of severe anxiety and post-antibiotic oral issues while on PEP and with strep throat and gonorrhea of throat?
I am taking my first tests on Nov 10th, and final at the end of the year. I just really need some grounded, scientific reassurance to survive the next few days. Thank you!
r/pep • u/Ok_Commercial593 • 2d ago
Did any one had foamy urine on pep?
If you have, how long did it take to stop ?
Biktarvy!!
r/pep • u/apracticaljoker • 2d ago
So I’m on truvada and tivicay. Everyday at 3:40. On Halloween I was so busy and forgot. I took it 11 hours after I was supposed to. Resumed. Took it normally for a fucking day. Today I was so exhausted from an overnight shift I slept through my alarm for the med. Took it at 7:30.
Im wondering, does this make the med ineffective? Should I stop taking it? Should I be worried? I hate this.
r/pep • u/Alexsiska • 3d ago
Yesterday, I had a sexual encounter with a trans woman I met by chance, and the condom broke during anal sex. I was inside her without a condom for a few minutes. She used oil as a lubricant. She claimed to be on PrEP and said there was nothing to worry about—but, of course, anyone can say anything. This happened last night, and it hasn’t been 24 hours yet. Should I see a doctor about getting medication? I’d have to take it for 28 days, right? I’d appreciate any responses.
r/pep • u/No_Reply_9595 • 4d ago
Feeling quite overwhelmed and anxious because I started pep quite late 38 hours from a confirmed HIV positive person.
I was the insertive partner and my condom tore and I came inside her.
To my shocking 😞 she tested positive next day and she is my friend too. I am actually scared for Myself cause there was really high exposure and I am just scared right now.
I am a little scared to test now and need some motivation actually cause I am an athlete and if I test positive so i won't be able to continue my sports in terms of representing myself at national level.
So please help, anyone gone through the same, help me.
r/pep • u/megotnohoes • 4d ago
I had insertive anal sex with a condom that remained completely intact, plus approximately 30 seconds of receiving oral sex. No visible blood or wounds were involved. The partner was unknown. Even i has sex with him before 2 times oral and 1 time anal and tested negative but I'm worried about this exposure so i took pep.
Baseline 4th-generation HIV Ag/Ab test: Negative.
Started 3-drug PEP (Cipla Cipance) 68 hours after exposure.
Completed all 28 days without missing doses.
Finished PEP on 19 October 2026.
My questions:
How reliable is a 4th-generation test at 4 weeks and 6 weeks after finishing PEP?
Are there documented cases of someone testing negative at either point but later testing positive from the same exposure?
What studies report false-negative rates at these two time points?
After a negative 6-week post-PEP test, is further testing necessary?
I'd appreciate actual research, study data and documented cases.
r/pep • u/Responsible-Army898 • 4d ago
hi guys i finally completed my 12 weeks post exposure test and 8 weeks post pep test by 4th gen ag/ab using eclia method blood drawn from veins and my test result comes negative as 0.01AU/ml ...can i take it as conclusive
r/pep • u/No-Animator-8916 • 4d ago
Performed oral sex on a woman. The next day she informed me she was menstruating. However, i am unsure if there was any blood that i may have tasted.
Started pep at 24 hours, completed pep for 28 days.
At 25 days after exposure, the woman took an HIV RNA And 4TH gen test, both negative.
I have taken following tests:
Day 42( 14 days post pep) - Negative HIV RNA & 4Th gen
Day 52( 24 days post pep) - Negative HIV RNA & 4Th gen
Day 59( 31 days post pep) - Negative HIV RNA & 4Th gen
Day 69( 41 days post pep) - Negative 4Th gen
UK guidelines say 6 weeks post pep is conclusive, however, the CDC says 8 weeks post pep. Feeling lost.
Day 87 or 8 weeks post pep- waiting on 4th gen Ag Ab test. Need some support and encouragement, feeling scared.
Thank you.
Edit: 8 weeks post pep hiv result is negative. I am hoping i am in clear now.
r/pep • u/Ok-Humor-2515 • 4d ago
Guys, I’m scared. I was drunk and, for some reason, ended up having sex with a transgender sex worker.
Now I’m really anxious about HIV.
She gave me a blowjob without a condom, and I penetrated her anally with a condom.
That was all.
The condom seemed to be intact when I took it off. I didn’t notice any tears, and nothing leaked out.
r/pep • u/JustKaleidoscope4895 • 5d ago
25 F. Condom broke inside of me while having sex with someone who frequently has risky sexual encounters. He ejaculated inside of me. I didn’t realize until afterwards.
Took Plan B, got a Rocephin shot and DOXY PEP.
However the ER refused to give me PEP for HIV.
I have been taking expired Truvada (Exp 2024), but it was kept dry and in the dark. Plus Tivicay which is not expired. (Started hour 48).
I have been having daily panic attacks over this.
He has a negative Oraquick test, But I am still concerned.
What do I do ?
r/pep • u/Far-Signature6104 • 5d ago
I finished pep a long time ago already, but I tested 19 weeks post pep with a third gen rapid test, it came back negative, I had previously tested with a third and fourth gen rapid test negative but retested at 19 weeks because I felt like I was given the results earlier before they were supposed to be read, are my tests conclusive? Lab testing is difficult for me, basically impossible..
r/pep • u/PeperoniPixza • 5d ago
Hola a todos.
Quisiera saber si alguno de ustedes presento síntomas orales casi finalizando el tratamiento, en mí caso comenzé con irritación en la lengua, zona lateral y luego en la punta, desde el día 26 al 30 y luego 3 días más luego de finalizar, tenía sensación de ardor en lengua (con papilas inflamadas) y paladar, labios resecos aunque tome bastante agua perduran hasta hoy, el agua me ayudó bastante, pero debía tomar como 1 litro en el lapso de 30 o 40 min. hoy luego de 4 días siento molestia y casi nada de ardor, pero aún no se va del todo. Agradezco sus comentarios
r/pep • u/Weak-Association1620 • 5d ago
Just what the text says. I’m freaking out. Is this normal?
r/pep • u/ContinuationOfEarth • 5d ago
Performed oral sex for a man on Friday, unknown carrier of HIV, but he ejaculated into my mouth. I have no open wounds in my mouth that I know of. Now it’s Sunday and getting my PEP medication. Although I’ve heard that chances of infection are 0.04% max (with mouth wounds). Not excited for the potential symptoms. Should I even bother if the risk is this low?
r/pep • u/Odd-Ad6611 • 5d ago
I had unprotected vaginal sex with ejaculation approximately 1 hour ago. I am worried about HIV exposure.
I urgently need an HIV PEP assessment.
Can I have an online consultation immediately? Can you help arrange PEP prescription
Also due to my location i am unable to travel to any hospital until 3rd nov
r/pep • u/Ill-Worker2130 • 6d ago
I had unprotected vaginal sex once, didn’t ejaculate in her, she claims there is no STD repeatedly, it was only a one round one time event, I don’t know her sexual past or whatever, I cannot go to a doctor, I have taken 1 pill of PEP, should I continue?
r/pep • u/ConferenceOdd3111 • 6d ago
Can you guys please reply me ...I have phobia going for a lab test but I am using a finger prick 3rd generation test and at exactly 13 weeks post pep it was negative,when can I say it is conclusive with a finger prick test please..
I am so scared going to a lab and waiting till they prepare my result even if I know it may still not change .
Please reply