HIV Post Exposure Prophylaxis can also be called PEP or PEPSE.

PEP is a course of medication that you take for 28 days, after you may have been exposed to HIV. You should start PEP within 24 hours, and no later than 72 hours after being exposed.

You can get PEP by calling Leeds Sexual Health.

If we are closed, you can get PEP from the Emergency Department at St James’s Hospital or Leeds General Infirmary.

PEP is recommended routinely if you have had condomless anal sex with another person who has a penis. If your sexual contact is born outside of the UK, or you have travelled for sex, then please get in touch with us to see if PEP is right for you.

It is important that you take the pills within 1 hour of the same time each day.

If you forget to take your medication one day, take it as soon as you remember. Do not take more than one dose of medicine per day.

If you miss 2 or more days of medication, then please contact us at Leeds Sexual Health, the medication is unlikely to work.

PEP is safe. Some people report side-effects (mainly headache, sickness or diarrhoea), these tend to settle down over time. If you are worried about side-effects, please call us for advice – we are here to help.

PEP is safe (if recommended) in pregnancy, but you may be given a different dose – your doctor or nurse will inform you.

It is important you do not take vitamin supplements or liquid heartburn medications (such as Gaviscon) whilst on PEP. These will stop the PEP from working.

We recommend that you have a repeat HIV test 6 weeks after stopping PEP. This can be arranged at Leeds Sexual Health.

If you think you have an ongoing risk of getting HIV, please discuss this with your doctor or nurse in clinic, you may benefit from HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). You can be supported onto PrEP as soon as you finish PEP.