PrEP

COVID-19: Service Update

Appointments for PrEP Services are available at Sandyford Central.

We will continue to provide routine PrEP services so that people can continue on PrEP if they wish. In the main, we will provide telephone-based PrEP care and organise what tests you need while you are on the phone.

We can also now assess people who feel they need to start PrEP or restart PrEP after a break. You will be asked to book a telephone appointment online initially.

If you cannot book an appointment online, please call 0141 211 8130.

Manage your sexual health online

Book, reschedule & cancel appointments online using our new system.

Online booking

Guidance on stopping PrEP safely

If your circumstances change, you may wish to stop PrEP. How to safely stop depends on how you are taking PrEP and what you are taking PrEP for.

If you are daily dosing, you should carry on taking PrEP for seven sex-free days. This includes when PrEP is being taken for vaginal/frontal protection. The exception to this is if you are a cis man* using daily PrEP for only anal sex protection (top or bottom) and no vaginal/frontal sex, when you can stop after 2 sex-free days.

If you are using “on-demand”, 2-1-1 or event based dosing (EBD), you can stop after 2 sex-free days (i.e. after your last dose).

If you want to ask more questions about stopping PrEP, you can do this at your appointment.

*Cis man refers to anyone who was assigned male at birth and who still identifies as a man.

Guidance on starting or restarting PrEP safely

If you're a cis man* using PrEP for only anal sex protection (top or bottom) and no vaginal/frontal sex, you should take a double dose 2-24 hours before sex. You can then continue with either daily dosing or event based dosing.

Everyone else should take daily doses for seven days before sex. This includes for vaginal/frontal protection.

If you are starting PrEP again having been off it for a while and you have not had unprotected anal or vaginal/frontal sex since stopping then it's okay to start taking it again as usual using the rules above. Otherwise you should make an appointment with us before starting again.

*Cis man refers to anyone who was assigned male at birth and who still identifies as a man

Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis, PrEP for short, is a medication that can be taken by anyone who is HIV negative to lower their risk of HIV infection.

PrEP is for anyone irrespective of their gender and sexuality.

How does PrEP work?

"Pre-exposure" means before sex and "prophylaxis" means to prevent infection.

PrEP is a combination of two medicines (tenofovir disoproxil and emtricitabine) taken as one pill. It prevents HIV infection by stopping HIV genes from getting into Human DNA. PrEP needs to be taken regularly and consistently to keep the level of drug high enough to prevent infection.

How do I access PrEP at Sandyford?

If you think that PrEP might be right for you, ask at any one of our clinics and we will give you information and ask if you want to arrange a follow up appointment.

Alternatively you can book an appointment using our online booking system to come in and speak to us about starting PrEP.

What If I'm taking PrEP bought privately?

If you are taking PrEP you have bought online and would like to discuss your individual situation with our clinical team please contact us on 0141 211 8130. We are very happy to talk to you about monitoring your PrEP use and your sexual health.

Using HIV PrEP? Remember to check the expiry date! Especially if you stopped using PrEP for a while and restart. Remind yourself of how to safely take it by visiting: www.prep.scot.

To book an appointment, click here.

Your PrEP questions answered

HIV Scotland website

Information about HIV

NHS Inform website

PrEP is prescribed to anyone who meets the eligibility criteria, as assessed by a sexual health doctor.

You must be all of:

Aged 16 or over.
Have a confirmed HIV negative test in a sexual health clinic.
Able to attend for regular 3 month reviews.
Willing to stop taking PrEP when no longer eligible.
Resident in Scotland.

Plus, fulfill one or more of the following criteria:

Current sexual partner, irrespective of gender, of people who are HIV positive with a detectable viral load.
Men who have sex with men* and transgender women with a documented bacterial rectal STI in the last 12 months.
Men who have sex with men* and transgender women reporting condomless penetrative anal sex with two or more partners in the last 12 months and likely to do so again in the next three months.
Individuals, irrespective of gender, at an equivalent high risk of HIV acquisition, as agreed with another specialist clinician.

*Includes transgender men

How does PrEP fit in with Safer Sex?

PrEP is not a catch-all safer sex strategy, it only protects against HIV infection. You could still get other STIs like gonorrhoea, syphilis and chlamydia. As condoms are still the best way to prevent these and other STIs we recommend that you use condoms too. As part of taking PrEP you will be asked to have regular HIV and STI tests to ensure the medication is working. This means if you're taking PrEP you will have regular opportunities to discuss your sexual health needs with health professionals.

PrEP in Scotland booklet

Download (pdf)

What to expect at Sandyford

All the information you need about your visit to Sandyford. Before, during and after the appointment.

What To Expect at Sandyford