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Paunang pagkakalantad na prophylaxis (PrEP)

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PrEP is a medication that prevents HIV

  • Taking PrEP reduces the chance of getting HIV through sex or sharing needles. It is over 99% effective when you take it according to the directions.
  • PrEP means taking a medication before sex or sharing a needle. There is another medication that prevents HIV called Sigla. PEP is used pagkatapos sex or sharing a needle.
  • PrEP is for people of all genders.
  • You can take PrEP even if drinking alcohol, using drugs, or taking hormones or birth control.
  • PrEP does not prevent other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Only doxy-PEP; and condoms can do that.

Where to get PrEP

Get PrEP at City Clinic

We can help you get PrEP or find out where you can get it. Call us at 628-217-6692.

We can prescribe PrEP as a pill to people with many kinds of insurance, or no insurance.

We can prescribe PrEP as a shot in some cases. It depends on your coverage.

If you have Kaiser or Veterans Administration (VA) insurance, we cannot prescribe you PrEP. But we can still see you for HIV and STI testing, and we can help you figure out how to get PrEP through your insurance.

Other places to get PrEP

If you have Kaiser, you must get PrEP at Kaiser:

  • Kaiser SF: 415-833-7737
  • Kaiser Oakland: 510-752-6848

If you are a patient with the San Francisco Health Network, you can also get PrEP at your primary care clinic or get PrEP at Ward 86.

Visit Please PrEP Me to find PrEP providers sa buong bansa.

PrEP as a pill is also available from online providers, with medication shipped directly to your door.

See a list of clinics in SF that provide the PrEP shot. In this list, the PrEP shot is called “CAB-LA".

Most people pay nothing for PrEP

This is because insurance covers PrEP, and people without insurance can get assistance that covers PrEP. We can sign you up for that assistance at our clinic.

How to get health insurance

As of January 1, 2024, more low-income Californians are eligible for full Medi-Cal. People who are undocumented can now get full Medi-Cal. Alamin ang higit pa.

If your income is higher than the limit for Medi-Cal, you can sign up for insurance with Covered California.

You do not have to get insurance to take PrEP. But having insurance means your costs are covered for all your medical needs, not just PrEP.

 

How to schedule your doses of PrEP pills

If you take PrEP as a pill, you need to take it according to a schedule for it to work. There are two schedules people use:

Take 1 pill every day

  • Taking 1 pill of PrEP every day works for all genders. It also works for all body parts used for sex, and for protection during injection drug use.
  • If you miss a pill on this schedule, take it as soon as you can. If it is almost time for the next pill, just take that next pill.

The 2-1-1 schedule

  • You can only take the 2-1-1 schedule with TDF/FTC (Truvada or emtricitabine + tenofovir disoproxil fumarate). Descovy has not been studied for the 2-1-1 schedule.
  • People can use the 2-1-1 schedule to prevent HIV when having sex using their penis or butt/anus. The 2-1-1 schedule is not known to work against HIV when using your vagina/front-hole for sex.
  • On the 2-1-1 schedule, you take pills only on the days when you have sex, and for two days after. The schedule is very specific: you take 2 pills at once 2 to 24 hours before sex, and then a second dose of 1 pill, 24 hours after the first dose. Finally, you take a third dose of 1 pill, 24 hours after the second dose.
    • Keep taking one pill every day until 2 doses have passed since your last sex. For example, if you have sex again between the second and third doses, add a fourth dose of 1 pill 24 hours after the third dose. If you have sex between the third and fourth doses, or between any later doses, keep adding more doses on this same schedule until you have had two doses without any sex in between.
    • If you are more than 2 hours late for a dose, take 2 pills in a single dose and call your provider about getting Sigla.
    • The 2-1-1 schedule requires planning ahead. Some people also find it hard to follow. If the 2-1-1 schedule does not work for you, consider taking PrEP as 1 pill every day instead.

Learn about future options for PrEP

More medications for PrEP are under study.

Results from a study in June 2024 showed that a PrEP medication injected every 6 months was safe and effective. This medication is named lenacapavir.

Lenacapavir is awaiting approval for PrEP by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and  is not yet available to the public.

How to get doxy-PEP

You can get doxy-PEP at SF City Clinic. If you get PrEP from another clinic, you can also ask them for doxy-PEP. Learn more about doxy-PEP.