PrEP « pre-exposure prophylaxis »

It is a medication which HIV-negative individuals who are at a higher risk of contracting HIV can take to protect themselves, providing a doctor’s prescription. PrEP protects from HIV just as some medications prevent from malaria or as a contraceptive pill prevents pregnancy (cf : infotestvih.ch)

However, PrEP protects only against HIV, and not against other sexually transmitted infections such as gonorrhoea, chlamydia, syphilis, papillomavirus or hepatitis.
It is important to be under regular medical supervision, to make sure vaccines are up to date and to monitor any side-effects.

When to start ?

You should talk about this medication with a doctor, who will provide you a prescription. The doctor will also check you are not HIV positiv or infected with Hepatitis B.

Where to get it ?

The Swiss health insurance does not cover the costs of PrEP medication itself. It usually costs around CHF 900, but Aspasie or Groupe Sida Genève can provide it for CHF 200 monthly. For any further information, you can contact Aspasie or Groupe Sida Genève