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Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) for HIV

If you think you have been exposed to HIV, anti-HIV medication called post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) may stop you from getting HIV.

It can only be prescribed if certain criteria are met. It is a four-week course of anti HIV medication.

If you are concerned that you have been exposed to HIV, immediately contact your local emergency department, genitourinary medicine (GUM) or sexual health clinic. GPs don’t give post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). It must be started as soon as possible but within 72 hours (3 days) of the risk.

The quicker PEP is started the better, ideally within hours of coming into contact with HIV. The longer the wait, the less chance of it being effective.

More information is available on NI Direct: If you think you have been exposed to HIV | nidirect

Contact details for GUM services for your local Trust area are available here: