STAY HIV FREEWITH PrEP

Enjoy sex without the worry of HIV. Pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, is an HIV-prevention pill that can significantly lower your chances of contracting HIV.

One Pill to Own the Night

PrEP is 99% effective at reducing the risk of getting HIV from sex and 70% effective at reducing the risk of getting HIV from sharing needles. And if you’re taking hormones, PrEP won’t weaken them. You deserve to be you, and PrEP was created with that in mind.

Liberate Your Love Life

Whether you’re exploring in your sex life or have a steady partner with HIV, PrEP protects you without taking away any spontaneity or intimacy.

Affordable & Accessible

PrEP is covered by most insurance plans, including Badgercare / Medicaid. There are also payment assistance programs available if you don’t have health insurance. A PrEP navigator can help you figure out where to get PrEP.

PrEP FAQs

Skip Frequently Asked Questions

A:PrEP (short for “Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis”) is the HIV prevention pill. When taken every day, the medicine in PrEP can protect an HIV negative person from becoming infected with HIV if exposed to the virus through sex or needle sharing.
A:
Young, old, gay, straight or trans—if you are HIV negative but at risk for HIV infection, PrEP could be a good HIV prevention method for you. PrEP is a great option for HIV negative people who:
- don’t always use condoms
- have ever had an STI
- are men who have sex with men
- have HIV positive partners
- don’t know whether their partner is HIV positive but do know they either inject drugs or have sex with other people
The best way to find out if PrEP is right for you is to reach out. Complete the form below and a member of our staff will contact you.
A:PrEP can protect you from HIV but it cannot protect you from other STIs like gonorrhea, chlamydia, and syphilis. While these other STIs are treatable, they are not fun and can potentially become dangerous, so your best plan is to maximize your protection from all STIs by taking PrEP and using condoms.
A:Most people don’t get any side effects from PrEP. For those who do experience side effects, they usually only last for a couple of weeks. The most common side effects of PrEP are headache, stomach pain, and nausea. Rarely, some people can experience more serious kidney and bone problems, but your provider will monitor you before and during PrEP to catch problems before they become serious.
A:PrEP doesn’t necessarily need to be taken forever. Someone can be at high risk for HIV today but next month find themselves in a different situation where their risk of HIV infection is low. One example might be that someone is having casual hookups for a while, but then get into a monogamous relationship. The key is to keep taking it every day as long as you’re at risk. Your provider will talk with you about your risk for HIV at any given time and help you decide when to stop taking PrEP.
A:PrEP is now covered by most insurance plans, including Medicaid. If you do not have any health insurance, we can help you look for other ways to cover the cost including medication assistance programs. We can also help you figure out if you qualify for health insurance, and help you sign up.
A:PrEP is available at several locations in Southern Wisconsin. A PrEP navigator will help you figure out the best place for you to get PrEP depending on your preferences and your insurance status.
A:Speed of protection depends on whether you are at risk for HIV from anal sex or vaginal sex. The highest level of protection against anal exposure to HIV is achieved after 7 daily doses of PrEP. High-level protection for vaginal exposure comes after 20 daily doses of PrEP.
A:Yes. Be sure to consult with your healthcare provider to coordinate your hormone and PrEP therapies. Good news: PrEP does not lower feminizing hormone in trans women.
A:In Wisconsin, young people under the age of 18 can’t consent to taking PrEP without their parent or guardian’s permission. A PrEP navigator can help you decide when and how to talk to your parents about PrEP if it’s right for you.
A:Yes. Be sure to discuss PrEP with your healthcare provider before starting. The medicines in PrEP have been studied among pregnant women living with HIV and there’s no known increased chance of birth defects, growth problems, or complications during pregnancy. Research has also shown that Truvada is safe during breastfeeding. Only a very small amount of Truvada gets into babies through breastmilk, so babies do not likely experience side effects.
A:Yes. So far, there have been no reports of negative interactions between PrEP and alcohol, weed or party drugs. In fact, many people who report high risk behaviors as a result of drinking or drugs find that PrEP is a good prevention option because it can be taken before partying when they are sober, whereas a condom needs to be used correctly at the time of sex, when judgement may have been impaired by substance use.

GETTING PrEP IS EASY

PrEP Navigation is a free, no-obligation service for people that want to learn more about PrEP. With this service, one of our PrEP Navigators will reach out to help with insurance questions, affordability, transportation, referrals to other services and more.

WANT TO LEARN MORE?

Fill out the form below and one of our PrEP Navigators will reach out to provide a free, no-obligation consultation. The information you provide is protected by law and will not be sold or shared.

If you prefer to call or text directly, you can reach us at 608-576-1537.

A PrEP Navigator will respond between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday. Our Navigators will identify themselves with the phrase “Hey, I’m the Navigator”.