PEP
There is a treatment that may stop HIV infection happening after the HIV virus has entered someone's body. This is called PEP, which stands for Post Exposure Prophylaxis.How quickly should PEP be taken?
If you have been exposed to HIV, you need to take PEP within 72 hours to help prevent infection with HIV. If possible, you should take it even sooner to give it the best chance of working.
After HIV gets into someone’s bloodstream, it takes between a few hours and a few days before the virus permanently infects them. If PEP treatment is started within that short time, there is a possibility of stopping HIV before the infection takes hold.
PEP treatment is most effective when taken within 24 hours of exposure to HIV.
Tell me more
You can find out more information on PEP at www.tht.org.uk/pep.
To access the PEP self-assessment tool to see if PEP would be beneficial to your circumstances, click here.
And there's information about HIV testing here.
You can also get information about HIV testing and treatment, including PEP, from the folloing places:
African AIDS Helpline
Freephone: 0800 0967 500
Website: www.africaninengland.org.uk
THT Direct.
Telephone: 0845 12 21 200
Website: www.tht.org.uk
Both the African AIDS Helpline and THT Direct can answer questions about sex, sexual health and HIV and put you in touch with support on issues relating to sex and sexuality. They can also give you some support and help you reach your own decisions on testing and treatment.
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