[Question #8948] Started PrEP, but made a mistake
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37 months ago
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Hello,
Wish I was not back here, but made another mistake and would like some advice please. I recently started PrEP (Truvada), last Tuesday, as I want to do all I can to protect myself from HIV. By my doctor's advice, he told me to wait a week before the medication is effective. At 4:00 pm Tuesday, 8:00 am Wednesday, and 8:00 Thursday, I took the medication, one pill. I decided to get together with someone, a crossdresser, late Thursday night. I was planning to use protection by all means necessary, however I had trouble getting an erection when putting the condom on, and ended up having unprotected insertive sex with this person, probably 10-15 minutes. I asked if they had anything before this encounter, during, and after and assured me they tested recently and were HIV negative. I made this same mistake before and feel so stupid, because I have the same anxiety as before, and allowed myself to put my guard down in the heat of the moment. Also, am disappointed that I did not wait a week like the doctor told me to. My question is am I overreacting? Is the PrEP I took before the encounter effective at all? I wish I had done the 2-1-1 method, but I had not planned on this happening. I am continuing to take it everyday at 8:00 am. Need your advice and next steps here, thank you.
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
37 months ago
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Welcome back to the forum. Congratulations on having started PrEP. It will do much to keep you safe from HIV. While the standard recommendation is that individuals should take PrEP for a full week before being confident of its protective affect, experience with so called “PrEP on demand” in which persons take PrEP medication 2 to 24 hours before engaging in potentially risky sexual encounters has proven to be highly effective. Thus, in my opinion you certainly would have achieved at least partial protection, reducing your risk for acquisition of an infection for the encounter you described. Given that you do not know the HIV status of your partner and that he informed you that he was HIV negative, I think you are most probably in the clear here and would urge you not to worry. EWH---
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37 months ago
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Thank you Dr. Hook. So you think that I was still at least partially protected? Like I said, did not do the 2-1-1 method that I commonly see on the net. You recommend I test at the three month mark? Trying not to worry, but struggling. Can't believe I allowed myself to make a similar mistake as before.
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
37 months ago
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Yes, I am confident that you were at least partially, if not fully protected. You can be reassured by testing 6 weeks after the encounter you described, Your risk is tiny- please don't worry. EWH---
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37 months ago
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Ahh that's nice to know. Part of me just wants to be celibate from now on. Yes, the pleasure of sex is great, but the thought of catching HIV is just so stressful to me. After the encounter is fine? The PrEP I am currently taking daily will not effect the results? You think the PrEP may also help after? Act like PEP? Trying not to worry, thank you.
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
37 months ago
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As I've already said, I anticipate that the PrEP that you were already taking will have greatly reduced your risk for infection, if you were even exposed. I worry that you are overthinking this. Please don't worry.
This completes this thread. Take care. EWH
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