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Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) refers to a short course (28 days) of HIV medicines that are taken after a possible exposure to prevent HIV infection.
PEP must be started within 72 hours after a possible exposure to HIV to be effective. The sooner PEP is started after a possible HIV exposure, the better.
Protect yourself from HIV: Use condoms correctly every time you have sex, use pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) if you believe you are likely to be exposed to HIV, and avoid sharing drug injection
Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is HIV medicine for people who do not have HIV that can reduce the risk of HIV transmission from sex by about 99% and from injection drug use by at least 74%.
To prevent perinatal transmission of HIV after childbirth, HIV medicines should be continued postpartum and should be started for infants exposed to HIV at birth, ideally within six hours of delivery.
HIV testing is recommended for all infants who may be exposed to HIV during pregnancy or childbirth; more frequent testing is recommended for infants at incr
HIV medicines (known as antiretrovirals) should be started as soon as possible during pregnancy and/or continued throughout pregnancy to maintain good health, prevent perinatal transmission of HIV, and prevent HIV transmission to sexual partners.
Because most HIV medicines are considered safe during pregnancy,
When available, a preventive HIV vaccine will be given to people who do not have HIV, with the goal of preventing HIV infection if they are exposed to the virus.
Although no HIV vaccine has been approved by the U.S.
An investigational drug is a drug that is being studied to determine whether it is safe and effective and how much of the drug is needed to treat a disease or medical condition, such as HIV.
Investigational HIV drugs are studied in a series of medical studies known as