How Effective is PrEP Medication in Preventing HIV?

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PrEP medication or pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV, has begun to play a significant role in sexual activities in today’s online era. This is due to a group of individuals with a high rate of partner turnover, facilitated by the ease of meeting new people through various social media platforms, which increases the risk of HIV transmission

Table of Contents

1. How Does PrEP Reduce the Risk of HIV?

2. Who Should Use PrEP?

3. Where Can You Buy PrEP? What Should You Do to Get It?

4. Why Should You Still Use Condoms After Taking PrEP?

5. Where Can You Get PrEP?

PrEP, which stands for Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis, is a preventive HIV medication taken before potential exposure to the virus. It works by inhibiting the replication of HIV that may enter the body, preventing the virus from multiplying and allowing the body to eventually eliminate it.

Remember, PrEP is only for individuals who are HIV-negative. If you fall into any of the following risk categories, you should consult a doctor immediately to consider starting PrEP:

• Those who frequently change sexual partners
• Those who inject drugs
• Those who frequently have unprotected sex
• Those with HIV-positive partners
• Men who have sex with men
• Those working in sex services
• Those who have frequently used PEP (Post-Exposure Prophylaxis)]

To start taking PrEP, you must contact a healthcare facility because a doctor will provide the correct guidance for using this medication. PrEP is not available over the counter at pharmacies or through online channels. Before starting PrEP, a general health check-up is required.

PrEP should be taken about 7 days before potential exposure and continued daily at the same time, similar to how birth control pills are taken, to ensure the body has a sufficient amount of the medication to protect against HIV. For those who can predict when they might be at risk, PrEP can be taken on-demand. This method involves taking the medication based on need, following a 2:1:1 regimen: take 2 pills 2-4 hours before the risk, take another pill 1 day after sex, and another pill 2 days after sex.

After starting the medication, the doctor will schedule a blood test to monitor the results after 1 month, and then every 3 months thereafter, to ensure you remain HIV-negative. If you no longer have any risk of HIV, you can stop the medication, but always consult your doctor first and have a blood test to confirm the effectiveness of the PrEP before discontinuing it.

Although PrEP is highly effective at preventing HIV transmission, it cannot protect against other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as syphilis, gonorrhea, chancroid, genital warts, herpes, and others. Therefore, it is still necessary to use condoms every time you engage in sexual activity.

While PrEP can prevent HIV infection by over 90%, there remains a 10% chance of exposure to HIV from a partner whose status is unknown. Nothing is certain in sexual health, so using both PrEP and condoms together offers the greatest level of protection.

Public Service Units For PrEP Medication

Northern Region

Province	Name of Service Facility
Chiangmai	Chiang Rai Prachanukroh Hospital Somdejphra Yupparaj Chiang Khong Hospital Nakornping Hospital Chiang Dao Hospital Fang Hospital San Pa Tong Hospital Chai Prakan Hospital
Nan	Nan Hospital Somdejphra Yupparaj Pua Hospital
Payao	Chiang Muan Hospital
Phrae	Phrae Hospital
Lampang	Phutthachinnarat Regional Hospital Wat Bot Hospital Somdejphra Narai Military Hospital
Maehongson	Srisangwan Hospital
Lamphun	Lamphun Hospital Mae Tha Hospital Li Hospital
Uttaradit	Uttaradit Hospital Nam Pad Hospital Phichai Hospital Laplae Hospital

Bangkok

• Lerdsin Hospital
• Phumbol Adunyadet Hospital
• Vajira Hospital, Faculty of Medicine
• Vajiraphayaban Hospital, Navamindradhiraj University
• Vejkarunrasmi Hospital
• Klang Hospital
• Taksin Hospital
• Ladkrabang Hospital, Bangkok
• Luang Por Thaveesak Chutinathro Uthit Hospital
• Jaerngkrung Pracharak Hospital
• Public Health Service Center 3 – Bang Sue
• Public Health Service Center 4 – Din Daeng
• Public Health Service Center 9 – Prachathipatai
• Public Health Service Center 21 – Wat Thatthong
• Public Health Service Center 22 – Wat Pak Bo
• Public Health Service Center 23 – Si Phraya
• Public Health Service Center 25 – Huai Khwang
• Public Health Service Center 26 – Chao Khun Phra Prayurawong
• Public Health Service Center 28 – Krung Thon Buri
• Public Health Service Center 29 – Chuangnuchnet
• Public Health Service Center 36 – Bukkhalo
• Public Health Service Center 41 – Klong Toei
• Public Health Service Center 43 – Minburi
• Public Health Service Center 48 – Nakawatchara Uthit
• Public Health Service Center 61 – Sangwan Tasnarom
• Public Health Service Center 64 – Klong Samwa
• Chulalongkorn Hospital, Thai Red Cross Society
• Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University
• Siriraj Hospital
• Rajpipat Hospital
• Sirindhorn Hospital
• Anonymous Clinic, AIDS Research Center, Thai Red Cross Society
• Pribta Tangerine Health Clinic

Central Region

Province	Name of Service Facility
Kamphaeng Phet	Kamphaeng Phet Hospital Khlong Khlung Hospital Phrankratai Hospital
Kanchanaburi	Phaholpolpayuhasena Hospital Makarak Hospital
Phitsanulok	Phutthachinnarat Hospital Wat Bots Hospital Somdet Phra Narai Hospital
Phetchabun	Si Thep Hospital Phetchabun Hospital Somdet Phra Yupparat Lom Khao Hospital Wichian Buri Hospital
Sukhothai	Sukhothai Hospital
Chai Nat	Sankhaburi Hospital Hanka Hospital
Nakhon Sawan	Sawanpracharak Hospital
Phichit	Phichit Hospital Bang Mun Nak Hospital Somdet Phra Yupparat Taphan Hin Hospital
Nakhon Nayok	Nakhon Nayok Hospital Ongkharak Hospital
Nonthaburi	Phra Nang Klao Hospital Pak Kret Hospital Bang Kruai Hospital Bamrasnaradura Hospital Panyananthaphikkhu Medical Center, Chulaphrathan Srinakharinwirot University
Pathum Thani	Pathum Thani Hospital Thammasat Chaloem Phra Kiat Hospital Prachathipat Hospital
Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya	Sena Hospital
Ang Thong	Wiset Chai Chan Hospital
Saraburi	Saraburi Hospital Phra Phutthabat Hospital
Nakhon Pathom	Nakhon Pathom Regional Hospital Kamphaeng Saen Hospital Nakhon Chai Si Hospital Huai Phlu Hospital Phutthamonthon Hospital Luang Pho Boen Hospital
Prachuap Khiri Khan	Prachuap Khiri Khan Hospital
Phetchaburi	Phra Chom Klao Hospital Nong Ya Plong Hospital Cha Am Hospital Tha Yang Hospital
Ratchaburi	Ratchaburi Hospital Pak Tho Hospital
Samut Songkhram	Somdet Phutthalerthla Hospital
Samut Sakhon	Samut Sakhon Hospital Ban Phaeo Hospital
Samut Prakan	Central Park Hospital Bang Bo Hospital

Eastern Region

Province	Name of Service Facility
Rayong	Rayong Hospital
Chanthaburi	Tha Mai Hospital
Chachoengsao	Bang Khla Hospital Bang Pakong Hospital Ban Pho Hospital Phanom Sarakham Hospital Plaeng Yao Hospital
Chonburi	Bang Lamung Hospital Somdet Phra Boromracha Tewi at Sriracha Hospital Somdet Phra Nang Chao Sirikit Hospital Burapha University Hospital
Trat	Trat Hospital Klong Yai Hospital Koh Chang Hospital
Prachinburi	Kabin Buri Hospital Chao Phraya Abhai Phubet Hospital

Northeastern Region

Province	Name of Service Facility
Sa Kaeo	Klong Hat Hospital Wang Nam Yen Hospital Watthanakorn Hospital Khao Chakan Hospital Wang Sombun Hospital
Kalasin	Kalasin Hospital Kamalasai Hospital
Khon Kaen	Khon Kaen Hospital Nong Ruea Hospital Nam Phong Hospital Somdet Phra Yupparat Kranuan Hospital Chumphae Hospital Ban Phai Hospital Waeng Noi Hospital Manchakiri Hospital Srinagarind Hospital, Khon Kaen University
Maha Sarakham	Maha Sarakham Hospital Wapi Pathum Hospital
Roi Et	Chaturapak Piman Hospital Thawatchaburi Hospital Phanom Phrai Hospital Phon Thong Hospital Nong Phok Hospital Selaphum Hospital Suwannaphum Hospital Changhan Hospital
Nakhon Phanom	Nakhon Phanom Hospital Phon Sawan Hospital
Bueng Kan	Bueng Kan Hospital Phon Charoen Hospital So Phisai Hospital Seika Hospital Bung Khla Hospital
Loei	Loei Hospital
Sakon Nakhon	Sakon Nakhon Hospital Kud Bak Hospital Kham Ta Kla Hospital Ban Muang Hospital Akat Amnuay Hospital Somdet Phra Yupparat Sawang Daen Din Hospital
Nong Khai	Nong Khai Hospital Phon Phisai Hospital Somdet Phra Yupparat Tha Bo Hospital
Nong Bua Lamphu	Nong Bua Lamphu Hospital Non Sang Hospital
Udon Thani	Udon Thani Hospital Kud Chap Hospital Kumphawapi Hospital Sri That Hospital Nong Han Hospital Thung Fon Hospital Chai Wan Hospital Ban Phue Hospital Phen Hospital Nong Saeng Hospital Somdet Phra Yupparat Ban Dong Hospital Khai Prajak Silapakorn Hospital
Chaiyaphum	Chaiyaphum Hospital Kaset Sombun Hospital Phu Khiao Chalerm Phrakiat Hospital Kaeng Khro Hospital
Nakhon Ratchasima	Maharaj Nakhon Ratchasima Hospital Chakrat Hospital Dan Khun Thot Hospital Phimai Hospital Si Khiu Hospital Pak Chong Nana Hospital The Golden Gate Hospital Theprat Nakhon Ratchasima Hospital
Buriram	Buriram Hospital Nang Rong Hospital
Surin	Surin Central Hospital Prasat Hospital
Mukdahan	Mukdahan Hospital Wan Yai Hospital
Yasothon	Yasothon Hospital Somdet Phra Yupparat Laeng Nok Tha Hospital Kud Chum Hospital Kham Khuean Kaeo Hospital Pa Tiew Hospital Kho Wang Hospital Thai Charoen Hospital
ศรีสะเกษ	Si Sa Ket Hospital Kanthararom Hospital Si Rattana Hospital
อำนาจเจริญ	Sena Na Khon Nikom Hospital
อุบลราชธานี	Sapphasit Phra Song Hospital Warinchamrab Hospital Phibun Mangsahan Hospital Sirindhorn Hospital Somdet Phra Yupparat Dech Udom Hospital 50th Anniversary Mahawachiralongkorn Hospital Na Yia Hospital

South Region

Province	Name of Service Facility
Krabi	Krabi Hospital Khao Phanom Hospital Ao Luek Hospital Lam Thap Hospital Nuea Khlong Hospital
Chumphon	Pathio Hospital Lang Suan Hospital
Nakhon Si Thammarat	Maharaj Nakhon Si Thammarat Hospital Somdet Phra Yupparat Chawang Hospital Cha-uat Hospital Tha Sala Hospital Sichon Hospital Khanom Hospital Chalerm Phra Kiat Hospital Phra Phrom Hospital
Phang Nga	Bang Sai Hospital Phang Nga Hospital Ko Yao Chai Phat Hospital Kapong Chai Phat Hospital Takuatung Hospital Kuraburi Chai Phat Hospital Thap Pud Community Hospital Thai Mueang Chai Phat Hospital
Phuket	Vachira Phuket Hospital Patong Hospital Thalang Hospital
Ranong	Ranong Hospital
Surat Thani	Surat Thani Hospital Koh Samui Hospital Kanchanadit Hospital Tha Chana Hospital Ban Ta Khun Hospital
Pattani	Nong Chik Hospital Kapho Hospita
Phatthalung	Phatthalung Hospital Kong Ra Hospital Khao Chai Son Hospital Thamod Hospital Khuan Khanun Hospital Si Banphot Hospital Pa Phayom Hospital
Yala	Yala Hospital Raman Hospital
Songkhla	Na Mom Hospital Singhanakhon Hospital
Satun	Khuan Ka Long Hospital

Public Service Units Collaborating with the Community

You can contact and book an appointment for PrEP at this website: love2test.org/th/clinic

In summary, if you take PrEP consistently, it will be highly effective and safe in preventing HIV infection. However, the use of PrEP in Thailand remains relatively low, mainly due to a lack of knowledge or understanding about the condition and its costs. There are also other factors such as societal attitudes and the stress associated with using PrEP that need to be addressed. This will help increase the uptake of PrEP and reduce the spread of HIV in Thailand.

Overall, PrEP is a valuable tool in the fight against HIV in Thailand, and there should be increased efforts to enhance understanding and accessibility for high-risk groups.