Miami-Dade Free HIV, AIDS & STD Testing & Treatment
ABOUT PrEP
What is PrEP HIV?
PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) is medicine that reduces your chances of getting HIV from sex or injection drug use. When taken as prescribed, PrEP is highly effective for preventing HIV.
What is PrEP and how does it work?
PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) is a preventive medication taken by people who do not have HIV to greatly reduce their risk of getting it. When taken consistently, PrEP keeps enough medicine in your body to block HIV from taking hold if you are exposed through sex or injection drug use.
How effective is PrEP at preventing HIV?
When taken as prescribed, PrEP reduces the risk of getting HIV from sex by about 99%. For people who inject drugs, it reduces the risk by at least 74% when used consistently. PrEP is most effective when you take it every day as directed.
Who should consider taking PrEP?
PrEP may be right for you if you do not always use condoms, have a partner living with HIV, have recently had an STD, or share injection equipment. Adolescents who weigh at least 77 pounds and people who are pregnant may also benefit. Our team can help you decide if PrEP is a good fit.
What PrEP medications are available?
How long does PrEP take to become effective?
PrEP reaches maximum protection in about 7 days for receptive anal sex, and about 21 days for vaginal sex or injection drug use. It is important to keep taking it consistently to stay protected.
Does PrEP have side effects?
Some people experience mild side effects such as nausea, diarrhea, or headache when starting PrEP. These usually go away over time. Your provider will monitor your health with regular check-ups while you are on PrEP.
How much does PrEP cost?
Most insurance plans and Medicaid cover PrEP at no cost under the Affordable Care Act. Test4FreeHIV can help you access PrEP and connect you with programs that make it affordable, regardless of your financial situation.
PrEP EFFECTIVENESS
How effective is PrEP?
PrEP is highly effective for preventing HIV.
- PrEP HIV reduces the risk of getting HIV from sex by about 99% when taken as prescribed.
- Although there is less information about how effective PrEP pills are among people who inject drugs, we know that PrEP pills reduce the risk of getting HIV by at least 74% when taken as prescribed. Currently, PrEP shots are not recommended for people who inject drugs.
- PrEP is less effective when not taken as prescribed.
How long does PrEP take to work?
- For receptive anal sex (bottoming), PrEP pills reach maximum protection from HIV at about 7 days of daily use.
- For receptive vaginal sex and injection drug use, PrEP pills reach maximum protection at about 21 days of daily use.
- No data are available for PrEP pill effectiveness for insertive anal sex (topping) or insertive vaginal sex.
- We don’t know how long it takes for PrEP shots to reach maximum protection during sex.
PAYING FOR PrEP
How can I pay for PrEP?
Most insurance plans and state Medicaid programs cover PrEP. Under the Affordable Care Act, PrEP must be free under almost all health insurance plans. That means you can’t be charged for your PrEP medication or the clinic visits and lab tests you need to maintain your prescription.
If you don’t have insurance or Medicaid coverage, there are other programs that provide PrEP HIV for free or at a reduced cost.
DECIDING TO TAKE PrEP
Is PrEP right for me?
- have a sexual partner with HIV (especially if the partner has an unknown or detectable viral load),
- have not consistently used a condom, or
- have been diagnosed with a sexually transmitted disease in the past 6 months.
You inject drugs and you
- have an injection partner with HIV, or
- share needles, syringes, or other drug injection equipment (for example, cookers).
You have been prescribed PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) and you
- report continued risk behavior, or
- have used multiple courses of PEP.
You may choose to take PrEP, even if the behaviors listed above don’t apply to you. Talk to your health care provider.
Can I take PrEP during pregnancy or while breastfeeding?
Can adolescents take PrEP?
CONTINUING PrEP
Why do I need to take PrEP as prescribed?
- You must take PrEP as prescribed for it to work.
- If you do not take PrEP as prescribed, there may not be enough medicine in your bloodstream to block the virus.
- The right amount of medicine in your bloodstream can stop HIV from taking hold and spreading in your body.
Can I take PrEP while on birth control?
There are no known interactions between PrEP and hormone-based birth control methods, e.g., the pill, patch, ring, shot, implant, or IUD. It is safe to use both at the same time.
Will PrEP interfere with my hormone therapy?
There are no known drug conflicts between PrEP and hormone therapy, and there is no reason why the drugs cannot be taken at the same time.
Can I stop using condoms if I take PrEP?
- PrEP provides protection from HIV but does not protect against other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) or prevent pregnancy.
- Condoms can help prevent other STDs that can be transmitted through genital fluids, such as gonorrhea and chlamydia.
- Condoms are less effective at preventing STDs that can be transmitted through sores or cuts on the skin, like human papillomavirus, genital herpes, and syphilis.
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Test4FreeHIV has six clinics in Miami-Dade County: North Miami Beach, Miami Springs, Doral, Coral Way, Miami Lakes and Hialeah. All are open Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. Walk in, or call 844-705-TEST (844-705-8378) to book.
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