Transgender Women and PrEP
PrEP, or pre-exposure prophylaxis, is a medication that helps you stay HIV-negative. When taken as prescribed, PrEP is highly effective. PrEP is safe and generally well tolerated. Most health plans (public and private) cover PrEP.
PrEP works for women, men, people of transgender experience, people of all sexual orientations and gender identities, youth, and people who inject drugs.
You can use PrEP alone or together with other prevention tools like condoms, PEP, and U=U to have the sex you want and reduce your chances of getting HIV!
PrEP may be an option for you if:
- You wonder how HIV impacts your life
- Condoms are not used with partners of unknown HIV status
- You or your partner(s) recently had gonorrhea or syphilis
- You want to have sex without condoms with a partner who has HIV
- You have sex for money, food, housing, and/or drugs
- You share needles for injecting drugs
Taking Hormones with PrEP or PEP
It is safe to take hormones while using PrEP or PEP. Many people use Truvada as PrEP, as PEP, or as treatment for HIV, and Truvada does not reduce hormone levels. Although it’s not expected that Descovy PrEP would reduce hormone levels, more research needs to be done to know for sure. Apretude PrEP (by injection) does not alter hormone levels.
Both Truvada PrEP and Descovy PrEP should be used daily by people of trans experience until more data are known.
Related Resources
#WeAreAllWomen
#WeAreAllWomen is a collaboration between UCSF’s Center of Excellence for Transgender Health & the HIVE. #WeAreAllWomen is our practice of exploring an inclusive community of all women, supporting each other in living healthy thriving lives.
The future of PrEP among transgender women: the critical role of gender affirmation in research and clinical practices
This paper reviews relevant literature to describe the current state of the science and describes the potential role of PrEP among trans women, including a discussion of unique considerations for maximizing the impact of PrEP for this vulnerable population.
TransLine Transgender Medical Consultation Service
TransLine is a collaborative project of expert clinicians in the field of trans health. This page provides in-depth guidance on medical issues, documentation, gender-affirming surgery, legal protections, and more.
Safer Sex for Trans Bodies
The HRC Foundation, in partnership with Whitman-Walker Health, released Safer Sex for Trans Bodies, a comprehensive sexual health guide for transgender and gender expansive people and their partners.