No matter who you are, your lifestyle or number of partners, we should all aim to enjoy our sexual relationships. However... be considerate to yourself and others if you are at higher risk of HIV by wearing a condom and getting yourself checked regularly for HIV and other STIs. Consider using preventative treatments PEP or PrEP , medicines proven to help protect against contracting HIV.
Higher risk of HIV exposure can happen if you enjoy more than one sexual partner at a time, are a sex worker or have chemsex and are injecting drugs or sharing needles with partners or friends.
"Like all sexually transmitted infections (STIs), HIV doesn't care what colour you are, your age or your religious background. If you're having unprotected, high-risk sex it's really important that you protect your partners health. That's why PrEP and PEP are indispensable in helping protect against HIV – they're free and available to all."
Sexual Health Nurse Consultant, The Florey Clinic, Reading
Both PEP and PrEP are primarily prescribed for use for those aged 16 years and over.
PEP and PrEP are also available for people aged under 16 years, if they are at risk of HIV infection. In this circumstance, a healthcare professional will discuss treatment options with you and your wider welfare.
Overall, irrespective of your age, if you need any sexual health advice, it’s always worth contacting your local sexual health clinic where the specialist healthcare professional team will help you.
You can find out about preventative treatments like PEP and PrEP here. To learn more about HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) visit the HIV and STIs page.
The following websites are further useful sources of information on HIV, PEP and PrEP.
Don't delay if you think you are at risk of HIV exposure and had unprotected sex (not wearing a condom or the condom breaks) or you’ve been sharing needles with others or you have been injured with a needle used to inject drugs, then get in touch with a local sexual health clinic or your nearest hospital Accident & Emergency department.
Be quick: PEP should be started within a few hours after exposure (although may also be given up to 72 hours after HIV-risk exposure).
This is an after-sex emergency treatment for use if you've been exposed to HIV after having sex. It's proven clinically to help prevent HIV if taken correctly for 28 days and treatment is started as soon as possible after exposure i.e. within a few hours and no later than 72 hours (3 days).
PEP is a prophylactic (preventative) anti-HIV infection treatment that is available free on prescription. It's available at local sexual health clinics in Berkshire or from hospital A&E departments if the clinics are closed. PEP is also available from Genito-Urinary Medicine (GUM) clinics outside of Berkshire.
PEP may prevent you getting an HIV infection if you've been put at risk and exposed to the virus but it doesn’t always work and is not a cure for HIV.
You'll be asked to take an HIV test before starting treatment. You'll also have to take an HIV test after PEP treatment to ensure that this treatment has been successful in preventing HIV infection.
You need to take a course of treatment (tablets) for 28 days to reduce your risk of HIV infection.
Contact your local sexual health clinic or your nearest hospital Accident & Emergency department if the clinics are closed.
You'll receive detailed information when you are given your PEP prescription but here are some brief details:
If you think you may be at future risk of HIV again you might want to think about taking PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis). This is another preventative treatment you take before actually having sex.
"Blaize talks about his personal HIV awareness journey: "I had my first 'HIV scare' in 2013 whilst 'in the closet', after having condomless sex with a partner I knew nothing about.
I was overwhelmed and consumed with shame, fear of what would happen if I contracted HIV, fear of what my parents, friends and family would think. Stress, anxiety and panic made me numb, and after not being able to handle these emotions any longer, I visited the sexual health clinic and was prescribed PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) for the first time."
Safe Sex Berkshire thanks the team at Prepster for providing this abridged case study
You can find out about preventative treatments like PEP and PrEP here. To learn more about HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) visit the HIV and STIs page.
The following websites are further useful sources of information on HIV, PEP and PrEP.
Sunita Baniya, Advanced Nurse Practitioner from the Garden Clinic in Slough explains how anti-HIV treatment PrEP is proven to reduce your chances of getting HIV when taken before you are exposed to HIV infection risk.
Nisha Pal, Consultant in Sexual Health and HIV at the Garden Clinic in Slough talks about PEP, or Post-Exposure Prophylaxis, an emergency treatment that may significantly reduce your risk of being infected with HIV after exposure and is available FREE from your local sexual health clinic.
Bret Palmer, Consultant in Sexual Health and HIV at the Florey Clinic in Reading discusses the importance of knowing your HIV status and using preventative treatments such as PEP if you have recently been exposed to HIV.
Paul Graham, Public Health West Berkshire, talks about Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis, also known as PrEP, a preventative treatment proven to reduce your chances of getting HIV.
Courtnay Sibley, Case Worker at Cranstoun Drug and Alcohol Service in Wokingham explains how certain lifestyles can put you more at risk of HIV infection. If you may have been exposed to HIV, don’t delay! Get in touch with your local sexual health clinic or visit your nearest hospital Accident and Emergency department.
