Rape and sexual assault affect over 450,000 Americans each year. And younger people, especially between the ages of 12-34, are at the highest risk for sexual violence. Besides the physical and emotional trauma, you may also be at risk for sexually transmitted infections such as HIV.
If you suspect HIV exposure, see a doctor or get medical attention right away if you can. To lower your risk of infection, ask your doctor if post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is an option for you.
What Is PEP?
PEP is a combination of three antiretroviral drugs that you take soon after a possible HIV exposure. It’s designed to prevent the virus from taking hold in your body and multiplying. But for it to be effective, you have to start taking it within 72 hours (3 days) of exposure, or it won’t work.
Every hour counts. The sooner you start this therapy, the better. This is because HIV takes root and infects your body very quickly – usually within 24-36 hours after exposure.
Who’s Eligible for PEP?
PEP may be right for you if you are HIV-negative and don’t know your attacker’s HIV status. But PEP should be taken only in emergency situations. It’s not meant for regular use if you’re frequently exposed to HIV.
If you seek medical attention within the 72-hour period after an incident like rape or sexual assault, your doctor will first do a rapid HIV test to check for your status. But because of the urgent nature of the drug, your doctor may start you on PEP without any delay if a test isn’t available.
The doctor will consider prescribing PEP for you if, during your assault, you came into contact with bodily fluids from a person who may have HIV through your:
- Vagina
- Anus
- Eyes
- Mouth
- Skin with cuts or wounds, or a puncture from a needle stick
If you’re seeking PEP treatment after sexual assault or rape, hospitals or doctors should provide you with a 28-day supply of HIV PEP.
If you’re a minor, you don’t need a parent's or a guardian’s approval for the initial medication.
How Long Do You Need to Take PEP?
Usually, PEP contains a series of three drugs that you take over 28 days. It’s important not to miss any doses. If you do, the drug may not work as effectively.
The recommended preferred PEP regimen may include:
- Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF), once daily
- Emtricitabine (FTC), once daily
- Either raltegravir (RAL), twice daily, or dolutegravir (DTG), once daily
Your doctor may suggest an alternative PEP regimen if the regular treatment doesn’t work for you. This will include a combination of:
- Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate(TDF), once daily
- Emtricitabine (FTC), once daily
- Darunavir (DRV), once daily
- Ritonavir (RTV), once daily
While you take PEP, you’ll still need a series of HIV tests to check your status. The recommended timeline for follow-up tests after exposure are:
- 30 days
- 90 days
If you later test positive for HIV, or if the sexual offender is found to be HIV-negative after these periods, you may stop taking PEP.
How Well Does PEP Work?
If you don’t take PEP within the 72-hour window, it may not be as effective. But even if you do, there’s no guarantee that you won’t get HIV. Some research has shown that it lowers your risk for HIV by 80%.
The National Institutes of Health reports that the effectiveness is highly dependent on whether the person exposed adheres to the requirement of taking PEP every day for 28 days, as well as making sure there are no additional exposures to HIV.
In this case, effectiveness is likely much higher than 80% if PEP is used consistently and correctly, as prescribed.
Does PEP have Side Effects?
PEP is a safe course of therapy. Most people can tolerate it well. But about 40% of those who take PEP may have side effects that usually range from mild to moderate.
Common side effects include:
- Nausea
- Fatigue
- Vomiting
- Headaches
- Diarrhea
In most cases, these side effects are treatable and aren’t serious enough to stop PEP. If they’re serious, talk to your doctor before you stop taking PEP.
How Can You Pay for PEP?
In many states, PEP is covered by insurance, including Medicaid. But if you don’t have insurance, there are several assistance programs that can help cover the costs. Since your PEP regimen is prescribed after rape or sexual assault, you may qualify for partial or total reimbursement for PEP medicines and other health care costs. This is covered by the Office for Victims of Crime, which is funded by the U.S. Department of Justice.
If your insurance doesn’t cover PEP, your doctor may be able to connect you with medication assistance programs for free PEP through one of the drug manufacturers.
