PrEP Perth
PrEP FAQ
PrEP Perth
PrEP FAQ?
Christine Dykstra
PrEP Perth | Sexual Health Clinic Perth
What is PrEP?
Warning before we begin
- This information is time-sensitive; when new information comes out, recommendations can change.
- This is general advice for Western Australians. It is always best to discuss your individual circumstances with an experienced PrEP provider to get advice tailored especially for you.
On-demand PrEP vs daily PrEP Perth
What are the different ways that PrEP can be taken, and which one is right for me?
1) Daily PrEP
Daily PrEP is “set and forget”. You take a tablet every day and you are virtually protected from contracting HIV:
- Taking it every day makes it easier to remember
- It is more guaranteed to protect you than the alternative (below)
- It still works if you forget the occasional tablet
- It means that you are covered if your sexual encounters are unplanned or unpredictable
- It is preferred if you are having very regular sexual contacts, for example twice or more per week
- It is suitable for all groups at risk of HIV infection
- It is the only method safe to use if you are a hepatitis B carrier, as frequent stopping and starting PrEP can cause major liver damage in that population. Your prescriber will check your hepatitis status for this reason
- In all other groups, it can be stopped if there are significant periods without having sex, then re-started when required. You should check with your PrEP prescriber about the stop/start rules.
2) On-demand PrEP
On-demand PrEP is an alternative, but only for cis-gendered men who have sex with men (i.e. men whose assigned gender at birth was male), in other words, gay and bisexual men (MSM).
- This is also known as 2-1-1 PrEP, or event-driven PrEP
- It involves taking two tablets together, between two and twenty-four hours before having sex
- If it involves a single sexual contact that day, you take one tablet the next day (no sex) then one tablet the following day (no sex), hence the name 2-1-1.
- However, if there is further sexual activity, say Friday and Saturday and Sunday, you would take the two tablets on Friday as above, the one on Saturday (more sex) and one on Sunday (more sex), then one a day for the two following, sex-free days, making 2-1-1-1-1.
- If taken correctly, this method is almost as effective as daily PrEP, but it is less ‘forgiving’, in that a missed tablet significantly reduces the degree of protection you get. And forgetting to take the two initial tablets means you are not covered at all.
- You should discuss this with your PrEP provider for further information, if you feel on-demand PrEP might better suit your own pattern of sexual activity
- On-demand PrEP may also be the preferred option for people who get significant side effects from the medication. Again this needs to be discussed with your provider
- On-demand PrEP may also be the preferred option for MSM with kidney issues.
Gym supplements and PrEP Perth
Can I still use my protein powders and gym supplements on PrEP?
Plenty of people manage to combine PrEP with protein powders or gym supplements. However, some people do have issues with the combination as they both are processed through the same part of the kidneys.
Our general recommendation would be to ease up on the protein powders when you start PrEP and check your kidney function after a month. If everything is fine, then you could increase your use and re-check your function at the 3-month PrEP visit.
It is important to discuss your circumstances with your PrEP provider and be honest about what supplements you use. They can work with you and your individual needs.
The other medicines that can interact with PrEP are non-steroidal anti-inflammatories.
If you use these regularly, this should be discussed with your PrEP provider as well.
Renal function & PrEP Perth
I want to go on PrEP but I’m worried about my kidneys.
This has become a common question people have when they start PrEP or want to switch to on-demand PrEP, even if their renal function has been normal on PrEP years.
While Tenofovir DF/emtricitabine (the medications used for PrEP) can affect renal function, it has been used extensively in HIV and PrEP by many people for many years without issue.
The important thing is to attend regular follow-up with your PrEP provider. They will monitor your renal function and can detect deterioration trends if they occur before they become significant, and at that point, they can discuss your options.
HIV and relationships
I‘ve started getting serious with someone, do I still need my PrEP?
That depends; the answer to this question demands an honest-heart-to-heart discussion with your partner. If you are both in a committed relationship that is ‘bank vault’ closed and you both have tested negative at the end of a window period since your last risk-exposure, then no, you don’t need to be on PrEP. If you are taking it already, you could stop, based on the start-stop rules.
It would be important to agree that, if the relationship opens up both partners have the opportunity to restart PrEP to reduce their risk of acquiring HIV.
Of course, if there are any concerns that the relationship isn't 100% closed or you don’t want to engage in those conversations, then it would be a good idea to continue on PrEP.
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3/5 Regent's Park Road,
Joondalup 6027
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Monday : 8.30 am - 1.00 pm
Tuesday : Closed
Wednesday : 9.00 am - 7.00 pm
Thursday : Closed
Friday : 9.00 am - 7.00 pm
Saturday : 9.00 am - 5.00 pm
Sunday : Closed