Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) for HIV prevention

All about PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis)

PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) is a course of antiviral medication to prevent HIV infection if you think you have been exposed to the virus.

When to take PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis)

PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis):

• must be started within 72 hours of HIV exposure
• be taken correctly as prescribed over a 28-day treatment period
• dosage is usually 1 tablet taken daily (in some circumstances, a combination of 2 or 3 tablets taken daily).

What PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) is used for

PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) is taken after a known or suspected exposure to HIV to prevent HIV infection.

Examples of known or suspected exposure to HIV may include:

• Condom-less sex with a person whose HIV status you don’t know or who has HIV and is not on treatment.
• Where a condom has broken or failed during sex.
• Sharing needles or other injecting equipment.

If exposure to HIV is through a person with HIV who has an undetectable viral load, PEP is not recommended, as there is no risk of transmission.

Where to get PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis)

If you think you have been exposed to HIV, do not wait for an appointment to see a GP. Call the PEP info line at the Victorian HIV Prevention Service (Tel. 1800 889 887) for guidance and information about where to find your closest PEP provider.

Your PEP provider will ask you a series of questions to determine your risk and whether PEP is appropriate.

PEP is available from:

• the emergency department of most public hospitals
• sexual health clinics
• some general practice clinics which specialise in sexual health.

If the exposure happens ‘after hours’, emergency departments are often the best place to go to start PEP as soon as possible.

PEP is widely available in Victoria and further information can be found at:

• GetPEP provides a comprehensive list of places where you can get PEP throughout Victoria and the rest of Australia.
• Victorian NPEP Service, Alfred Health – information and advice for people seeking PEP.

PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) possible side effects

PEP can cause severe side effects in some people. These include:

• nausea and vomiting
• headaches
• an upset stomach
• diarrhoea
• fatigue or tiredness.

Important things to know about PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis)

Important things to remember about PEP:

• Must be started within 72 hours of potential exposure.
• Must be taken every day for 28 days to work.
• It does not protect against other sexually transmissible infections (STIs) – such as syphilis, gonorrhoea and chlamydia.
• Is not a morning-after pill (known as emergency contraception) that makes it easy and safe to have sex without a condom.

Get yourself tested for STIs, and treated if necessary, by your local GP (doctor).

Other HIV prevention options

There are many easy and effective ways to prevent HIV. Other than PEP, HIV transmission can also be prevented by:

• Using condoms (including female or internal condoms) with water or silicone-based lubricant during anal or vaginal sex.
• Using clean, sterile injecting equipment.
• Taking pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) – for people at risk of HIV transmission.
• Achieving and maintaining “undetectable” HIV viral loads (U=U) if you have HIV by taking HIV antiretroviral treatment (ART) as prescribed.

Depending on your risk factors and lifestyle, you may be more suited to other HIV prevention methods. It is important to find the right prevention method (or combination of methods) that works for you and your sexual partners.

If you have used PEP more than once, you may wish to talk to your GP about starting pre-exposure prophylaxis or PrEP for HIV prevention.

PrEP is a pill taken once a day and is 99% effective at preventing HIV transmission if taken consistently as prescribed.

For more information visit or call the Victorian PrEP Service, Alfred Health on 1800 889 887.

Where to get help

• Your GP (doctor)
• Your local community health service
• Sexual Health Victoria (SHV). To book an appointment call SHV Melbourne CBD Clinic: (03) 9660 4700 or call SHV Box Hill Clinic: (03) 9257 0100 or (free call): 1800 013 952. These services are youth friendly.
• Melbourne Sexual Health Centre Tel. (03) 9341 6200 or 1800 032 017 or TTY (for the hearing impaired) (03) 9347 8619
• Get PEP If you believe you may have been exposed to HIV. Tel. 1800 889 887
• Living Positive Victoria Tel. (03) 9863 8733
• Positive Women Victoria Tel. (03) 9863 8747
• Victorian HIV Service, Alfred Health Tel. (03) 9076 5436
• Positive Living Centre Tel. (03) 9863 0444 or 1800 622 795 (for country callers)
• Multicultural Health and Support Service, Centre for Culture, Ethnicity and Health Tel. (03) 9418 9929
• Thorne Harbour Health (formerly Victorian AIDS Council) Tel. (03) 9865 6700 or 1800 134 840
• Equinox Gender Diverse Health Centre Tel. (03) 9416 2889
• PRONTO! Tel. (03) 9416 2889
• Ballarat Community Health Sexual Health Clinic Tel. (03) 5338 4500
• Bendigo Community Health Sexual Health Clinic Tel. (03) 5434 4300 Or (03) 5448 1600
• Gateway Health Clinic 35, Wodonga Tel. (02) 6022 8888 or 1800 657 573
• Sunraysia Community Health Services Tel. (03) 5022 5444
• Barwon Health Sexual Health Clinic Tel. (03) 5226 7489
• Women's sexual and reproductive health hubs (throughout Victoria)