Find a ClinicPreventing HIV
is easier than ever.
From safer sex to PrEP to PEP, modern prevention methods are so good that they could effectively stop the spread of HIV—when combined with everyone knowing their status.
Talking About Prevention
Having open conversations about HIV prevention helps you make more informed decisions about managing risk and your overall health.
With your Partner(s)
- Know your HIV status, and make sure your partner knows theirs
- Be clear about your relationship status—casual, monogamous, poly, open, etc.
- Discuss the HIV prevention methods (condoms, PrEP, etc.) that make sense for you, and use them consistently
With Healthcare Providers
- Be open and honest about your habits and sexual history
- Don’t be afraid or embarrassed to ask questions about safer sex or HIV prevention methods
- If you may be at risk for HIV, ask if PrEP is right for you
With Friends & Family
- Encourage friends and family to talk with their partner(s) about HIV prevention
- Encourage loved ones who may be at risk to learn about PrEP
- Include safer sex and other HIV prevention methods as part of a sex-ed discussion with your kids
Make HIV Prevention Part of
Your Overall Sexual Health.
Sex is a lot of fun and there are plenty of sex-positive ways to effectively reduce your risk for HIV.
Use a Condom Every Time
When used properly alongside a water- or silicone-based lube, latex or polyurethane condoms are very effective at preventing HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
Consider Lower-Risk Sexual Activities
Except in extremely rare cases, there’s very little risk of passing HIV through oral sex or mutual masturbation. Reducing your number of partners can also lower your HIV risk.
HIV and Other STIs
People who have another sexually transmitted infection are at higher risk for acquiring HIV. Learn about the symptoms, risks, and prevention methods for other STIs.
Prevention Medications
Thanks to advancements like PrEP and PEP, people in a sexual relationship with an HIV-positive person can nearly eliminate their risk of acquiring the virus. And with quick action, people who may have already been exposed can lower their chances of getting HIV.
How PrEP Works
- When taken daily, PrEP can prevent the HIV virus from taking hold in your bloodstream
- PrEP can reduce the risk of getting HIV from sex by about 99%
- PrEP can reduce the risk of getting HIV from injection drug equipment by at least 74%
- PrEP has only mild side effects, and they generally go away over time
Things to Know About PrEP
- PrEP is not an HIV vaccine—it needs to be taken regularly to be effective
- It doesn’t work if you take it immediately before or after exposure to HIV
- It’s not a substitute for treatment for people living with HIV
Who Should Consider PrEP?
- Anyone who doesn’t regularly use condoms during sex with partners of unknown HIV status
- HIV-negative people in ongoing sexual relationships with HIV-positive partners
- People who have shared syringes or works while injecting drugs in the last 6 months
- People with HIV-positive partners who are considering getting pregnant
How to Access PrEP
Co-Pay Coupons
If you get PrEP through private insurance, you may be eligible for help with your co-pays.
Local Clinics
Several locations in Utah offer PrEP on a sliding-scale cost structure, or even for free.
Advancing Access Program
Even if you’re uninsured, you may still be eligible for help paying for PrEP.
PEP: The Emergency HIV Prevention Method
Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is an emergency method that can prevent HIV infection if taken within 72 hours of suspected exposure. Talk to an emergency room doctor or other healthcare provider immediately if you:
- May have been exposed to HIV during sex (for example, because of a broken condom)
- Shared syringes or works to prepare drugs (like cotton, cookers, or water)
- Have recently become a victim of sexual assault
Drugs, Alcohol, & HIV
While it’s true that binge drinking or using drugs can put you at increased risk for HIV, there are plenty of things you can do to minimize your risk.
Drug Equipment & HIV Risk
Sharing drug use equipment like syringes and works—or in very rare cases, straws or other items used to snort substances—can expose you to HIV. Never sharing equipment is the best way to prevent drug-related HIV risk.
Party Drugs & Alcohol
Binge drinking or party drugs like poppers, pills, or amphetamines can decrease inhibitions and lead to unprotected sex, or sex with multiple partners whose HIV or other STI status may be unknown.
Syringe Service Programs
Syringe service programs are a safe, free, non-judgmental way to reduce your risk of HIV. They offer injection drug users the chance to exchange used syringes for new, clean ones, and many other resources to help reduce drug-use-related harms.