PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) is medication taken by HIV-negative people to reduce the risk of getting HIV, and it is available free on the NHS across the UK through sexual health services. You get it by contacting a sexual health clinic — not through a GP prescription — and access includes an initial HIV test plus regular monitoring while you are taking it.
- Free on the NHS in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, via sexual health clinics.
- You cannot normally get it from a GP — sexual health services are the route.
- Access includes HIV testing before starting and monitoring while taking it.
- PrEP protects against HIV only, not other STIs.
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What PrEP is
PrEP is antiretroviral medication taken by someone who does not have HIV, to prevent them acquiring it. It is a well-established intervention — NHS services across the UK routinely commission it, and it is recommended by Terrence Higgins Trust and NHS guidance as a highly effective HIV prevention option for people at higher risk.
It does not protect against other sexually transmitted infections, which is why regular testing continues alongside it.
How to get it
| Step | What happens |
|---|---|
| 1. Contact a sexual health clinic | Find one via NHS service search; in Scotland via NHS inform |
| 2. Assessment | A clinician discusses whether PrEP is suitable for you |
| 3. HIV test | Required before starting — PrEP is for HIV-negative people |
| 4. Kidney function and other checks | Baseline tests as clinically indicated |
| 5. Prescription and instructions | Including how it should be taken, which the clinic explains |
| 6. Ongoing monitoring | Regular HIV and STI testing while you continue |
Waiting times for an initial appointment vary considerably by area. If your local clinic has a long wait, other clinics may be quicker — you are not restricted to your own area.
Cost
PrEP is free on the NHS through sexual health services in all four UK nations, as are the tests and monitoring that go with it. There is no prescription charge for it at sexual health clinics.
Buying PrEP online is not the same thing. Medication obtained outside a clinical service comes without the HIV test that must precede it, without monitoring, and with no guarantee of what it actually contains. The NHS route is free, so there is no cost argument for the alternative.
What PrEP does not do
- It does not protect against other STIs — chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis and others are unaffected. Regular testing remains part of it.
- It is not treatment for HIV. Treatment is a different regimen, prescribed after diagnosis.
- It is not emergency medication. That is PEP, taken after a possible exposure, and it is time-critical — contact a sexual health clinic or A&E as soon as possible, ideally within 24 hours and no later than 72.
Talking about it on apps
PrEP comes up in conversation on dating platforms, and two things are worth saying plainly. Nobody is entitled to demand proof of your status or your medication from you. Equally, someone refusing any conversation about sexual health at all has told you something about how they approach it.
See also U=U explained and free STI testing.
Frequently asked questions
Is PrEP free on the NHS?
Yes, across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, through sexual health services. The associated HIV testing and monitoring are free too.
How do I get PrEP in the UK?
Contact a sexual health clinic — that is the route, rather than a GP prescription. You will have an assessment and an HIV test before starting, then regular monitoring while you continue.
Can my GP prescribe PrEP?
Generally no. PrEP is commissioned through sexual health services rather than general practice, so a sexual health clinic is where to go.
Does PrEP protect against other STIs?
No. It reduces the risk of HIV only. Chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis and others are unaffected, which is why regular testing continues alongside it.
Is it safe to buy PrEP online?
It bypasses the HIV test that must come first and the monitoring that goes with it, and you cannot verify what you are receiving. Since the NHS route is free, there is no cost reason to do it.
What is the difference between PrEP and PEP?
PrEP is taken before potential exposure as ongoing prevention. PEP is emergency medication taken after a possible exposure and is time-critical — contact a clinic or A&E as soon as possible, within 72 hours at the latest.