Who is eligible?

PrEP isn’t for everyone, but for those who are at higher risk of HIV, PrEP can have a huge benefit. Eligibilty for PrEP will depend on your specific circumstances and is considered on a case by case basis.

Take our quiz to see if PrEP is for you!

PrEP is recommended in the following groups:

  • Men who have sex with men and trans women who have anal sex without a condom
  • People who have a partner living with HIV who has a detectable viral load

PrEP should be considered in those who have a combination of these factors:

  • Heterosexuals from Black African communities
  • Recent migrants to the UK
  • People who inject drugs
  • People who share injecting equipment
  • People who report sex work
  • People who engage in chemsex or group sex
  • People who have condomless sex with those of unknown HIV status
  • Inability to negotiate and/or use condoms (or employ other HIV prevention methods) with sexual partners
  • Coercive and/or violent power dynamics in relationships (e.g. intimate partner/domestic violence)

I think PrEP might be for me, how do I get it?

PrEP is accessible for free from the NHS. You will need to go to a sexual health clinic (we can help you arrange this) to get tested for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. The clinic will also want to do a sexual health history questionnaire: this is to identify if you are at risk of becoming infected with HIV, and whether or not PrEP is for you. There is a list of questions you may be asked below.

Click here to find your nearest clinic

Questions you may be asked

While at the sexual health clinic you might be asked some questions to decide if you’re eligible to be given PrEP. These are standard questions and depending on how you answer them could impact the likelihood of prescription.

Think carefully about the answers to these questions before you attend the appointment. That way the sexual heath practitioner can get a full picture of your sexual heath and provide the best care possible

  • Time since your last sexual contact
  • Number of sexual partners in last 3 months
  • The gender of partner(s)
  • The partnership type and whether the partner can be contacted
  • The type of sexual contact
  • Condom use
  • Any symptoms or any risk factors for blood-borne viruses in the partner

Side effects of PrEP

PrEP is a very safe drug, but it may cause some side effects, such as:

  • Headaches
  • Nausea
  • Diarrhoea
  • Feeling dizzy or weak
  • Bloating and indigestion
  • Insomnia

It is important to remember that not everyone gets side effects. In those who do, they will usually go away within 1-2 weeks.

PrEP can affect kidney function and bone density. These remain well within normal brackets, but you may need to do a kidney function test to double check.

All potential side effects return to normal when PrEP is ceased.