PEP, or post-exposure prophylaxis, is used to reduce the possibility of HIV infection after exposure to the potential risk of having sexual relations.
Available since the 1990s, was primarily for health workers “have similar injuries or bites, adopted the revised guidelines for PEP by the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV and the United Kingdom Expert Advisory Group has published the see data in 2008 and here
PEP has prevented more effectively in the crucial hours and days of exposure to HIV before the virus to reproduce in the body to create. Ideally, the 28-day course of drugs must be made within 24 hours, but in any case within 72 hours, putting in danger.
Before you start taking PEP after a risk, the more likely it is to be effective. For maximum protection must be taken the right dose at the right time without losing anything, about the right amount of drug in blood maintained at all times. For more information about HIV risk, testing, and the availability of PEP in the UK can be found here
Risk assessment: Do you expect prompted a series of specific questions, such as the risk has occurred, including the type of sex that has – it was oral or anal sex? He was involved in seed? Had used a condom? It ‘very important for the sexual history of the person who had sexual relations with a given, especially if they are HIV positive or not.You will also be asked to do an HIV test, since treatment with PEP is not those already infected with HIV binding . Therefore should be 3 to 6 months after taking PEP to determine if the infection was avoided.
Where PEP: You can get PEP from sexual health clinics or from A & E departments in many hospitals. But immediately – not wait until the weekend is over. Before PEP.
Possible side effects: Taking PEP is not an easy choice or economic. Since this is a triple combination of anti-retroviral PEP to induce the same type of side effects such as in HIV-positive people who take medication early against HIV. The most common side effects are tiredness, diarrhea, nausea, headaches and more. In rare cases can lead to serious side effects such as liver damage.
Staying safe: Taking PEP will not give immunity against infection with HIV, so if you have unprotected sex while taking PEP, or if a course of medication is completed, you can still become infected with HIV.
PEP is not a substitute for consistent condom and lubricant. However, recent studies suggest that most men who took PEP and not have unprotected sex less on it, and therefore presumably trying to PEP again. PEP, but does not work for everyone – some people who take still end up with HIV afterwards. Some anti-HIV drugs is not easy work against some strains of HIV, but is more likely to fail if not taken properly or fairly soon.
Fonti: Official Site Watch (August 2009) Gay Mans Health Forum (August 2009) Terence Higgins Trust website (August 2009) Patient UK website – Dr. Richard Draper (August 2009)
