PrEP Briefing Paper

This briefing paper provides an overview of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for people planning, commissioning or providing HIV prevention activities in the UK. It does this by reviewing thirty key questions about PrEP and how it might be implemented in the UK.

PrEP is an HIV prevention strategy that uses antiretroviral drugs to protect HIV-negative people from HIV infection. People take antiretrovirals (ARVs) when they are at risk of exposure to HIV, in order to lower their risk of infection. Research suggests that PrEP is highly efficacious in preventing the sexual transmission of HIV, as long as the drugs are taken regularly, as directed. However, PrEP does not prevent other sexually transmitted infections or pregnancy.