PrEP, short for pre-exposure prophylaxis, is a medication taken by HIV-negative people to protect you from HIV. When taken as prescribed, it is highly effective – making it one of the most powerful tools available for HIV prevention today.
Plus, there’s been some good news to start 2026: Thanks to a change in the Medicare rebate, the cost of PrEP has dropped from $31.60 to just $25 for a one-month supply for all those who access PrEP through Medicare. That means PrEP now costs less than $1 a pill! (Note: Concession card holders and those accessing PrEP through the Closing The Gap scheme can expect to pay the same price as last year, $7.70 for a one-month supply.)
Getting Started with PrEP
Your GP, or a sexual health clinic, can prescribe PrEP. First, you'll need to confirm that you are HIV negative through a test – this is essential, as PrEP is only for people who do not currently have HIV. Your doctor will also screen you for other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), such as chlamydia, gonorrhoea, and syphilis, and assess your kidney health to make sure the medication is safe for you. Your prescribing doctor will walk you through all of this at your first appointment. To find the nearest sexual health centre near you, contact the NSW Sexual Health Infolink on 1800 451 624.
Once you're on PrEP, you'll need to attend check-ups every few months. These visits allow your doctor to monitor your health, retest for HIV and other STIs, and make sure everything is going smoothly.
It's also important to understand what PrEP does and doesn't do. While it’s highly effective at protecting you from HIV, it does not protect against other STIs.
If you're concerned about STIs, using condoms alongside PrEP remains a wise and recommended practice. You can also consider taking Doxy-PEP, which prevents transmission of chlamydia and syphilis. Your doctor can also prescribe Doxy-PEP.
Taking PrEP On-Demand
Taking a PrEP pill daily isn't the only option. For a growing number of gay and bi+ men, on-demand PrEP – also called event-driven PrEP – can be a better fit. This approach suits people who have sex infrequently and can be a cost-saving alternative to daily dosing.
For on-demand PrEP, timing is everything. We call it the 2-FUN-1-1 method, and it works like this:
2 pills taken between 2 and 24 hours before “fun” (AKA sexy time)
1 pill taken 24 hours after the double dose
1 pill taken another 24 hours after that
Or a simple way to remember it: Take 2 before fun, then 1 and 1.
If you continue to have sex during or after this, keep taking one pill each day until two days after your last encounter. Missing or mistiming a dose can reduce the medication's effectiveness, so it's crucial to stick to the schedule.
Think PrEP may be right for you or got more questions about on-demand PrEP? Learn more at EndingHIV.org.au.
Written by the team at ACON Health.
