What is PrEP?
Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) is a preventive treatment against HIV-infection. Treatment reduces the risk of contracting HIV by over 99% when taken as prescribed. PrEP does not protect against other sexually transmitted diseases (STD).
Before starting PrEP
Before starting PrEP, it is important that you have not been exposed to HIV-infection in the past week. This means that you must have had either protected sex or no sex including unprotected oral sex.
This is because treatment with PrEP may make it difficult to detect a recent infection with HIV and because HIV-infection is treated differently than prevention of HIV infection.
How does PrEP work
The pill contains two active ingredients; tenofovir and emtricitabine that prevents HIV from multiplying. If HIV cannot multiply, the virus cannot survive.
How to take PrEP
PrEP is usually taken as one pill daily. You can take PrEP with or without food. You take two pills the first day and then one pill daily, preferably at the same time every day. You are protected against HIV infection after two hours.
It is important to take the prescribed dose of the medication. If you take a smaller dose or take the medication irregularly, there is a significant risk that the effect will be weakened.
PrEP On-Demand
If you only want to take PrEP during sexual exposure, you can take Prep On-Demand.
Before starting Prep-On demand, it is important that the medication is taken every day for the first month to ensure that you tolerate PrEP medication without any adverse effects.
For PrEP On-Demand, two pills are taken 24 hours before sexual exposure, and minimum two hours before followed by one pill 24 hours after exposure and another pill 48 hours after exposure. It is important to continue taking PrEP daily until 48 hours after your last exposure.
If you wish to change from daily PrEP to On-demand or vice versa, it is important that you contact the clinic for advice and guidance on how to take the medication correctly.
Remember PrEP each day
When you begin PrEP, it's important to think about your routines. It is easiest to remember PrEP if it is taken as daily routine, e.g., with your morning coffee or when brushing your teeth. It may also be a good idea to buy a personal pill dispenser at the pharmacy. This will help you remember whether you have taken your PrEP each day.
PrEP follow up visits and tests
As a PrEP user, you are followed at an infectious medicine outpatient clinic every 6 months.
You must show up for a check-up on the day you are booked, but the time is flexible. Opening hours are 9:00 to 14:30.
At the check-up, you will have blood drawn for HIV and kidney function. At each check-up, you are provided with PrEP medication free of charge.
You can follow your test results and next appointment in the app MinSP (minsundhedsplatform.dk).
Book an appointment for your blood draw
You must book an appointment for tests at the app MinSP.
The first 9 month with PrEP
| | Day 0 | Phone call | 1 month | 3 month | 9 month |
| Date | | | | | |
Blood tests;
Kidney function, syphilis, HIV, Hepatitis C | X | Response and start of medication | X | X | X |
Swab;
Chlamydia and Gonorrhea | X | | | X | X |
| Vaccinations | | Plan for vaccinations | | | |
Vaccinations
If you are not vaccinated for hepatitis A, B or Mpox, you will be offered vaccination.
Pauses while on PrEP
It is important to avoid or protect yourself against exposure to HIV if you stop taking your PrEP medication.
If you pause PrEP, you need to contact the clinic before resuming your PrEP. In order to do this correctly it is important to have a negative HIV-test before resuming PrEP, so you need to have protected or no sex for a week before we can take the negative HIV-test.
Test for Sexually Transmitted diseases (STD)
It is recommended that you are tested for chlamydia and gonorrhea if you have symptoms (e.g. discomfort when urinating, abnormal discharge, or lower abdominal pain).
Many people with chlamydia/gonorrhea infections who do not have symptoms recover on their own without treatment. Unnecessary use of antibiotics can cause the bacteria to become resistant, meaning it no longer responds to treatment. This can make future infections more difficult to treat.
Additional visits
If you show symptoms of STD, you are always welcome to call for an extra screening.