Urgent visit - HIV prevention (PEP)

Urgent visit - HIV prevention (PEP)

Consultation with an infectious disease doctor for adults after following risky sexual contact. The purpose of the consultation is to initiate preventive treatment promptly, which can significantly lower the risk of HIV infection.

Don’t postpone this – book an appointment now. The medication will not work unless it is taken within 72 hours (3 days) after exposure to HIV. Every hour counts!

What is HIV post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP)?

Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is a method that aims to significantly lower the risk of HIV infection after being exposed to potentially infectious materials such as blood, semen, vaginal mucus, and pre-ejaculate. PEP is meant to be used as an emergency treatment and must be initiated within 72 hours, and ideally 48 hours after any contact with HIV. To prevent infection caused by possible HIV exposure, this method involves taking antiretroviral medication for 4 weeks.

When should you consider PEP?

If you suspect you have been exposed to HIV, it is important to consider PEP as soon as possible (within 72 hours) after:

• you had an unprotected anal or vaginal intercourse with a partner of unknown HIV status;
• the condom broke during intercourse with a partner of unknown HIV status;
• you shared needles, syringes or other equipment for injecting drugs. In this case, the medication should be taken within 48 hours. The sooner you initiate PEP, the better, as every hour counts. During your consultation with the infectious disease doctor you will be given a prescription and you can purchase the medicines from the designated Medicover pharmacy. If PEP is prescribed to you, it is required that you take it every day for 28 days.

During the consultation, your doctor will also ask you to have the necessary tests for sexually transmitted diseases (including HIV). You can also carry out the tests yourself before consulting with the doctor and report back with the results.

You will be informed about follow-up appointments and consultations by the doctor.

During the consultation, the doctor will:

take your medical history; assess the indications for implementing HIV post-exposure prophylaxis; suggest carrying out the necessary laboratory tests to rule out infections such as HIV, HBV, HCV, syphilis, gonorrhoea, chlamydiosis; examine the patient's most recent test results, which were carried out in relation to the risky contact; give prescriptions; inform about the dosage and use of the prescribed medicines, as well as about any further treatment needed; provide information on the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases, including vaccinations against HBV, HAV and HPV.

What are the benefits for you?

• Quick access to a consultation with an infectious disease doctor so that the patient can take medication within 72 hours.
• Obtaining medication prescriptions without waiting for test results.
• Information about pharmacies that have medicines available.
• PEP is very effective in preventing HIV infection when taken properly.

Please remember!

PEP is for emergency situations only. PEP is not a replacement for the regular implementation of other HIV-prevention methods. PEP is not the right choice for people who may be at frequent risk of HIV exposure. If you are at constant risk of HIV exposure, discuss PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) with your doctor.

In case of positive results of the tests requested during the consultation, please book an appointment with your doctor.

It is important to protect yourself and your partners during the course of implementing PEP, which means using condoms with your sexual partners and not sharing needles, syringes or other equipment to inject drugs.