We are excited to be launching a new educational series: Sex Ed 101! From PrEP & PEP, to condoms & lube, to HIV & STI prevention, we are here to cover it all so that you have the tools and resources to take charge of your sexual health. Today’s topic is all about PEP. Not sure what PEP is? Well read on below about this important tool in HIV prevention.

Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) is a great option to consider if you have had unprotected anal or vaginal sex with a partner known to be or likely to be living with HIV. You may also want to access PEP if you have experienced a sexual assault; injected drugs with a shared or used needle; or had contact with another person’s blood or bodily fluids through a needle stick or open cut.

When it comes to PEP, timing is key. You must start PEP within 72 hours of the potential exposure - the sooner, the better. The most direct way to access PEP is by going to your nearest Emergency Department. If you are in the Portland area, OHSU is your best bet. Check if OHSU takes your insurance plan. Unlike other Portland area Emergency Departments, OHSU will provide you with the full 28-day supply of PEP. If you are unable to go to the OHSU Emergency Department, the provider will give you an initial supply of PEP and a prescription so that you can get the rest of the 28-day supply from your preferred pharmacy. If you need to fill a PEP prescription, you will want to call your preferred pharmacy to confirm they have the medication in stock. 

If you do not want to go to the Emergency Department, you can go to your nearest Urgent Care. Unlike Emergency Departments, however, Urgent Cares do not have PEP in stock so you will not be able to start PEP there. The Urgent Care provider will send a PEP prescription to your preferred pharmacy, which you will need to fill. When deciding whether to access PEP through an Emergency Department or an Urgent Care, bear in mind that the sooner you’re able to start PEP after the potential HIV exposure, the better. If you have any questions about PEP or encounter issues trying to access it, please reach out to Cascade AIDS Project’s PrEP/PEP Navigators at PrEP@capnw.org or 503-223-5907.

Want to see a specific topic covered in our Sex Ed 101 series? Let us know at comms@capnw.org!

About Cascade AIDS Project

CAP is a non-profit organization that was founded in 1985 as a grassroots response to the AIDS crisis. As the oldest and largest community-based HIV services provider in Oregon and southwest Washington, we seek to support and empower all people with or affected by HIV, reduce stigma, and provide the LGBTQ+ community with compassionate healthcare. We do so by helping to ensure the health and well-being of our program participants each year through health, housing, and other social services. When the need for affordable, accessible, and culturally affirming primary care services was identified as a community need, we responded by opening Prism Health in 2017.  More information can be found at www.capnw.org.