PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis) is a safe and effective way to reduce the risk of contracting HIV for people who may be at higher risk of exposure. Taken daily, PrEP can significantly lower your chances of getting HIV and help you feel more confident in protecting your health.
At Health Services of North Texas, our experienced providers offer PrEP care in Denton and Plano, TX, with judgment-free support and personalized guidance to help you decide if PrEP is right for you.
PrEP may be a good option for people who face an increased risk of HIV exposure due to their relationships, sexual activity, or injection drug use. Individuals with an HIV-positive partner or those who share injection equipment may benefit from additional protection through PrEP.
At Health Services of North Texas, our providers offer individualized PrEP care, helping you understand your risk and determine whether PrEP fits into your overall prevention plan.
Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) represents a groundbreaking approach to HIV prevention for individuals who may be at risk of exposure. PrEP is a safe and effective way to significantly reduce the risk of contracting HIV and can be an important part of an overall sexual health and prevention plan. Some of the benefits of PrEP at Health Services of North Texas include:
PrEP does not protect against other sexually transmitted infections, so regular testing and safe practices are still important. Our care team is here to help determine if PrEP is right for you and to support you every step of the way.
The contraction of HIV can often be avoided by following proper prevention methods. Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) can be an effective prevention option for individuals depending on their lifestyle and level of risk. Potential patients should weigh at least 77 pounds and must test negative for HIV before beginning treatment. PrEP may be especially important for the following groups of people:
PrEP is as simple as taking a pill once a day. The daily consumption of these pills can keep the HIV virus from permanently infecting the body when it is exposed. In fact, some studies have shown that PrEP can reduce the risk of contracting HIV via sex by about 99% and via injection drug use by around 74%. However, the pill must be taken daily or it will not be as effective. Additionally, because PrEP only shields the body against HIV, it is still important to use condoms in order to protect yourself from other STDs and in case you have not been taking PrEP consistently.
Once you start taking PrEP, we’ll schedule regular appointments (usually every three months) to check on your health, make changes if necessary, and refill your prescription. You may experience a few minor side effects from PrEP, including headache, stomach pain, nausea, diarrhea, and fatigue, all of which should clear up over time. Keep in mind that PrEP is only for HIV and will not protect you from other transmissible infections. We recommend speaking with our team first if you ever decide you wish to stop taking PrEP.
According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control), PrEP treatments reach optimal effectiveness at preventing the contraction of HIV within about seven days of daily use.
Yes, you must take PrEP medication every day, or it will lose its effectiveness.
Yes, you can. While PrEP can be effective at reducing your chances of contracting HIV, you can still get other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and should always use protection.
The most common side effects experienced with emtricitabine and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate can include:
