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
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.
Do Ask, Do Tell
Do Ask, Do Tell: A Toolkit for Collecting Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Information in Clinical Settings will help you better understand the health issues facing lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals.
Transgender Health Resource Center
From the American Academy of HIV Medicine, this Transgender Health Resource Center provides information on a wide range of subjects concerning transgender health.
Transgender Women and Sexual Health Video
This video depicts a day in the life of a woman going out on a date with her new beau and spending the night together for the first time. Returning home late the next morning, she is met by an inquisitive housemate whose questions about her experience appear rooted in equal parts concern and excitement.