3 minute read
PrEP vs PEP: choosing the right HIV prevention window
PrEP is planned before future exposure. PEP is an urgent course after a recent possible exposure. See how their timing and purpose differ.
DIRECT ANSWER
An online consultation lets an EU-licensed doctor review your case and, if appropriate, issue an electronic prescription; each pharmacy decides whether it can dispense it.
Doctor reply in under 2 hours
Average doctor reply under 2 hours; at night and on public holidays it can take longer, always within 24 hours. A prescription only if appropriate.
EU-licensed doctors
Every case is reviewed by an EU-licensed doctor.
Electronic prescription
Each pharmacy decides whether it can dispense an approved prescription; some do not accept PDF prescriptions.
HOW IT WORKS
From consultation to collection
- 1
Consultation
Answer a secure medical questionnaire online.
- 2
Doctor reviews
An EU-licensed doctor personally assesses your case.
- 3
Prescription only if appropriate
The doctor replies in under 2 hours on average and issues a prescription only if it is clinically appropriate.
- 4
Collect at the pharmacy you choose
Take an approved prescription to the pharmacy you choose; each pharmacy decides whether it can dispense it.
PrEP and PEP use antiretroviral medicines at different moments. PrEP prepares for possible future exposure. Post-exposure prophylaxis, or PEP, is started urgently after a particular recent exposure. Confusing the two can lose valuable time.
When PrEP fits
PrEP is planned prevention for an ongoing or anticipated period of HIV exposure. It begins after HIV testing and safety checks, then follows a daily or other clinician-approved schedule. It is not designed as a one-off tablet taken after sex and should not be improvised from leftover medication.
When PEP fits
PEP is considered after a recent exposure that may carry meaningful HIV risk, such as condomless sex or shared injecting equipment in certain circumstances. It must be assessed and started as soon as possible within the local eligibility window. An emergency department or sexual-health service can evaluate the source, exposure and test timing.
Moving from PEP to PrEP
If exposure may continue, a service can plan a transition so prevention is not interrupted. HIV testing remains central because starting an incomplete prevention regimen during unrecognised HIV infection can create treatment problems. Follow the service schedule rather than leaving a gap or overlapping products yourself.
When to seek help
PrEP must not be started or restarted without excluding HIV infection at the appropriate time. Fever, rash, sore throat, swollen glands or a flu-like illness after a recent exposure may be signs of acute HIV and need prompt testing. A very recent high-risk exposure may call for urgent post-exposure prophylaxis instead; PEP is time-sensitive and should be assessed immediately.
What to prepare for a medical review
A PrEP review covers recent exposures, the timing and type of HIV tests, kidney function, hepatitis B status, other medicines, pregnancy where relevant, and a wider STI screen. Follow-up testing is essential even when you feel well. Protection depends on taking the agreed schedule correctly, and national access pathways can differ across Europe.
A calm next step
If the exposure has already happened, seek urgent PEP advice now. If you are planning for future exposures, arrange a PrEP assessment. A service can handle both questions confidentially.
Clinical sources used: European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control PrEP standards and European Medicines Agency product information for emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil.