What Is PrEP? PrEP stands for pre-exposure prophylaxis. It is when someone takes medicines every day to lower his or her chances of getting HIV. Who Should Take PrEP? Only people at very high risk for getting HIV should take PrEP, such as: those who are in a sexual relationship with someone who is HIV-positive men who have sex with other men and have had anal sex without a condom men who have sex with other men and have been diagnosed with an STD (sexually transmitted disease) in the past 6 months those who have sex without a condom with people who are at high risk for HIV (for example, IV drug users or men who have sex with other men) those who share needles with others Does PrEP Always Prevent Someone From Getting HIV? PrEP prevents HIV transmission most — but not all — of the time. Besides taking the PrEP medicine every day, using a condom every time and for every form of sex (vaginal, oral, anal) can give even more protection from getting HIV. Does PrEP Protect People From Other STDs? No, PrEP does not protect people from getting other STDs. So, someone taking PrEP needs to use a condom every time and for every form of sex (vaginal, oral, anal) to lower the risk of getting other STDs. How Does Someone Get PrEP? A health care provider prescribes PrEP. The medicines must be taken every day to work. An HIV test is done when someone starts PrEP and every 3 months after that. Back to Articles Related Articles HIV and AIDS There is no cure for AIDS, which is why prevention is so important. Get the facts on HIV/AIDS, as well as how it affects the body and is treated, in this article. Read More How to Get Tested for HIV Often the only way to know if someone is infected with HIV is through testing. Here are the facts on what's involved in getting tested — and who should get tested for HIV and why. Read More My Friend Has HIV. How Can I Help? People who have HIV might feel alone and frightened at times. More than anyone, they need good friends like you to lean on and trust. Read More Can You Get HIV From Having Sex With Someone Who Has AIDS? Find out what the experts have to say. Read More Condoms Condoms may be a good birth control option for couples who are responsible enough to use one each time and people who want protection against STDs. Read More How Do People Get AIDS? AIDS, or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, is a disease where the body is unable to fight off many infectious diseases as it normally could. Find out how AIDS is spread and how to protect yourself against it. Read More STDs (Sexually Transmitted Diseases) You've probably heard lots of discouraging news about sexually transmitted diseases. The good news is that STDs can be prevented. Find out how to protect yourself. Read More Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor. © 1995-2021 KidsHealth®. All rights reserved. Images provided by The Nemours Foundation, iStock, Getty Images, Veer, Shutterstock, and Clipart.com.