What is PrEP?
PrEP stands for “pre-exposure prophylaxis”, meaning it is a tool to stop infection (“prophylaxis”) that is taken before you are exposed to that infection. This website is focused on PrEP for stopping HIV.
People at risk for HIV, like men who have sex with men should seriously consider PrEP along with condoms for maximum HIV prevention.
Choices for PrEP include:
Daily use of oral PrEP medication in pill form (DESCOVY, Truvada or other generic versions);
Or
Injectable long-acting PrEP (APRETUDE), injected once every two months.
Find out more about injectable long-acting PrEP (APRETUDE) at our new page: https://hivnow.ca/injectable-prep-and-hiv-treatments/
Important Note: PrEP it is not a cure for HIV and it does not protect you from other sexually transmitted infections (e.g. syphilis, chlamydia, gonorrhea, HPV, hepatitis C). You should consider condoms and Doxy-PEP to prevent STIs.
For more on Doxy PEP: https://www.actoronto.org/health-information/doxy-pep-and-doxy-prep/
For more on condoms & lube: https://www.actoronto.org/health-information/campaign-1-condoms-lube/
PrEP is endorsed by the World Health Organization for people who are HIV negative (not living with HIV) and at risk for HIV infection. PrEP has been shown to be as high as 99% effective at reducing risk for HIV when taken every day (without missing a dose). 1. It is so effective that we call the risk “negligible” if a person is correctly taking their daily PrEP.
PrEP works by disrupting HIV and preventing it from establishing a foothold in the body and causing a systemic infection.
The Evolving Medications Taken When Engaging in PrEP
PrEP is an acronym that describes an overall prevention method (pre-exposure prophylaxis). This isn't a new concept: many other drugs are also taken prior to infection to prevent illness (e.g. malaria medications before travelling).

HIV PrEP comes in many forms:
-Truvada is the brand name for an antiviral pill that contains two medications: emtricitabine (FTC) and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF). It was the first form of PrEP in Canada.
-Generic medication copies of Truvada, often at a much lower price are available.
-DESCOVY contains the medications emtricitabine and tenofovir alafenamide in one pill and has proven to be as effective as Truvada in preventing HIV in men who have sex with men; however, DESCOVY is not approved for people with a vagina, front hole, or people who inject substances; and generic versions aren’t available yet, making it a more expensive option. DESCOVY is sometimes recommended when there is concern about someone’s kidney functioning or bone density.
-APRETUDE (using a drug called cabotegravir) is the first long-acting injectable PrEP approved in Canada in May 2024. This PrEP medication is injected into the muscle tissue to act as protection against HIV for two months.
Any form of PrEP should be seen as one part of an over all comprehensive sexual heath plan. That’s why it’s important to follow-up with the appointments that accompany it (to look at any side effects, to test for HIV, and other STIs), and to consider using condoms and Doxy-PEP along with PrEP.

Is PrEP right for me?

Getting PrEP

HRT (GAHT) & HIV

Paying for PrEP

Private Insurance & PrEP

Private Insurance Worksheet
You can also find frequently asked questions about PrEP on this other website: TheSexYouWant.ca
1 Peter L. Anderson P. Glidden D. Liu A. et al. Emtricitabine-Tenofovir Concentrations and Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Efficacy in Men Who Have Sex with Men. Retrived June 7, 2017 from: http://stm.sciencemag.org/content/4/151/151ra125