Preventing HIV with medication – HIV PrEP
PrEP is short for pre-exposure prophylaxis. You can protect yourself from infection with HIV by taking HIV PrEP. This involves regularly taking a medication that prevents you from HIV infection.
Is HIV PrEP suitable for me?
You can have a consultation to find out whether PrEP is suitable for you. Consultations are provided by the public health service (ÖGD), i.e., by your local public health authority (Gesundheitsamt). Consultations are normally anonymous and free of charge, even if you don’t have health insurance.
Where can I get HIV PrEP?
If you have health insurance: If the consultation determines that HIV PrEP is suitable for you and you have health insurance, you can attend a doctor who is authorized to prescribe PrEP. The addresses are provided here.
If you don’t have health insurance: If HIV PrEP is suitable for you but you don’t have health insurance, some local health authorities will still issue a prescription. Your local health authority will also provide you with information about the costs and how they can be covered.
This overview shows you where you can attend an HIV PrEP consultation at a local public health authority and get a prescription. You will also find it useful if you already take PrEP and if you need to find a point of contact in a new town or city.
HIV PrEP provides effective protection against HIV but not against other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) or pregnancy. That’s why you should always wear a condom in addition to taking HIV PrEP.
How do I take HIV PrEP?
You need to take the medication every day, usually in tablet form, to prevent HIV infection. You can take it continuously or only during periods when you are at risk of HIV infection. Consult a doctor for detailed information about how to take the medication.
Regular testing is required both before and while taking the medication. In other words, treatment with HIV PrEP is monitored by a doctor. This ensures that the medication is well tolerated.
The contents of this page were developed in conjunction with the STI quality circle of the municipal health authorities.