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Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take for PrEP to work?

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Answer

PrEP pills reach maximum protection from HIV at:

  • About 7 days of daily use for receptive anal sex (bottoming)
  • About 21 days of daily use for receptive vaginal sex and injection drug use

There is no available data on PrEP pill effectiveness for insertive anal sex (topping) or insertive vaginal sex.

It is unknown how long PrEP shots take to reach maximum protection during sex.

More questions about PrEP/PEP

Related FAQs

What should I do if I miss a dose of PrEP? Read answer What are the different forms of PrEP available? Read answer Are there any side effects of PREP? Read answer Do I still need to use condoms if I’m on PrEP? Read answer What is the PAPI program? Read answer How do I know if I qualify for the PAPI program? Read answer
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