Better Health Channel
betterhealth.vic.gov.au Department of Health
betterhealth.vic.gov.au Department of Health
  • Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is an oral medication that prevents HIV in people at risk of infection with the virus.
  • PrEP reduces the risk of getting HIV by up to 99% when taken as prescribed.
  • All GPs (doctors) in Australia can prescribe PrEP.
  • PrEP doesn’t protect against sexually transmissible infections (STI). Condoms are still the best protection against STIs (including syphilis, gonorrhoea, and chlamydia).
  • HIV transmission can also be prevented by using condoms during anal or vaginal sex, using sterile injecting equipment, not sharing injecting equipment or achieving and maintaining “undetectable” HIV viral loads if you are HIV-positive.

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Content on this website is provided for information purposes only. Information about a therapy, service, product or treatment does not in any way endorse or support such therapy, service, product or treatment and is not intended to replace advice from your doctor or other registered health professional. The information and materials contained on this website are not intended to constitute a comprehensive guide concerning all aspects of the therapy, product or treatment described on the website. All users are urged to always seek advice from a registered health care professional for diagnosis and answers to their medical questions and to ascertain whether the particular therapy, service, product or treatment described on the website is suitable in their circumstances. The State of Victoria and the Department of Health shall not bear any liability for reliance by any user on the materials contained on this website.

Reviewed on: 09-11-2023