r/pep

I'm 1 day post PEP. I thought that I would be ecstatic that I was finally finished with the medication, but its the opposite. My anxiety is at an all time high. All the "what ifs" are flooding my mind and stressing me out. My risk is on the lower/mid end.

*edit to add risk*
Unprotected oral sex, unprotected brief penetration. (He inserted the head of his penis inside of me no more than 4-5 times trying to convince me to go raw.) He finished with a condom. Unfortunately I do not know his status.

I have a follow up appointment in June. Wish me luck.

I was on pep for 30 days then I had a couple very high risk encounters on the weekend. Straight after that I got on prep. I think my last dose of pep was either Thursday or Friday morning, the several encounters happened from Saturday morning to Sunday morning and then after my last encounter on Sunday morning I started taking prep. Some studies say that you’re 96-97% protected if you’ve taken prep/pep for 30 days or more even if you miss 2-3 days? Are these true do I need pep? I’m at 48 hours currently so I only have another 24 hours left to get it. Or will I be ok?

Exposure on january (unprotected with sw), took PEP within 24h, finished the regime with proper adherence.

Took a test on day 28, came back negative. Went overseas for a few months and came back recently. I havent had any symptoms and havent fallen sick other than week 1 pep side effects.

Am i in the clear? I’ve book an appointment for a test friday. But thinking about it kind of made me spiral again reminiscent to how it felt during week 1

Thanks!!

I m dentist

the bloody instruments used for extraction was soaked in water so when I put my instruments in water the water droplet splashed into my eyes is there a risk

Low risk exposure

Protected sex with sw (tested negative 2 days after )

Due to anxiety i took pep.

Should i stop pep.

I am concerned over the side effects of pep since its a low risk exposure.

Hi all, I hope you are all keeping safe and well.

I started pep around 59 hours after a high risk exposure (I tried to get it at 24 hours but emergency department told me to wait until Monday when the clinic opens because it's fine as long as it's within 72 hours. I didn't know that effectiveness decreases after 24-48 hours).

During pep I started getting sore throat and slightly tender feeling lymph nodes. Shortly after finishing pep I began getting heavy fatigue alongside the sore throat and lymph nodes, getting progressively worse over 2-3 weeks. Then I also developed nausea and diarrhea which has been going on for three days, alongside chills and feeling quite hot on my forehead.

Anyone else experienced something similar but tested negative? I'm waiting for RNA test results to come back and I'm thinking of sending off a blood sample for 4th gen testing soon. I was going to wait for 4 week post pep mark, but these symptoms have been stressing me out. I should hopefully receive the rna results back today or tomorrow, but now I'm feeling pretty sure that I will test positive.

Been so depressed lately, I think the fatigue has worsened it a lot, and my career is suffering a lot because of it. I'm pretty worried cause I took pep late towards the end of the window, and my exposure was much higher risk than most of the others I've seen here. Thankfully I've not had a rash yet, so I suppose the symptoms could still fit with mono or COVID etc. Just really concerning timing.

I thought going to the clinic to be tested and prescribed with PEP would be the hardest, but man I am on my 4th day of PEP today and the 28-day regimen is the most anxiety-inducing days of my life. The mental toll that it’s taking on me is so heavy. Please share your PEP journey to help me at least relieve my anxiety. Thank you very much.

​

Timeline:

I Had a sexual exposure on 26 April

Started PEP on 27 April

On 6 May, while already on day-10 of PEP, I went to a diagnostic lab for blood tests.

What happened at the lab:

The staff brought a box containing multiple vacutainer needles.

In front of me, he picked one needle and opened it .

Blood draw happened normally with a vacutainer tube system.

I did not see visible blood in the needle.

There was also a transparent container nearby containing used capped needles/syringes.

The new needle box and used sharps container were kept close to each other, which triggered my Doubt .

Around 15–20 minutes before my blood draw, no other patient had come.

Now my brain is stuck on: “What if by mistake a previously used HIV-contaminated vacutainer needle was put back into the fresh box and used on me?”

Extra details:

I already had active PEP coverage at that time (day-10 of PEP).

I completed/plan to complete the standard 28-day PEP course properly.

I got a bruise after blood draw (green/blue mark for a few days).

My questions:

1. In real-world diagnostic labs, how realistic is accidental reuse of a vacutainer needle from a fresh box?

2. If a vacutainer needle had been used once about 15–20 minutes earlier, would blood clotting/blockage usually affect blood flow?

3. Since I was already on active PEP during this exposure, would the ongoing remaining 20 days of PEP generally still provide protection?

4. Am I dealing with a realistic medical risk here or health anxiety/OCD-style overanalysis?

5. Any other person wo go through PEP. Would same. Confusion

Please answer honestly and logically, not just emotionally reassuring.

I have just finished my 28 day course of PEP, but I feel like I am getting symptoms, does anyone know if PEP has failed for anyone?

Extra - I am F and was anally SA without condom, if that makes any difference!

Started my pep after 62 hours of exposure as I didn't know about this process.

Doctor tell me to calm and just return to your normal work. I have a doubt when I buy tablet I simply put all the tablets out on my bed in my room which is only used by me just to count the no of tablets and put it back immediately. I have Anxiety that I might have spoiled the meds. Doctor tell me that it's fine and continue with my meds.

Anyone ever done the same thing ? I was just curious to know the no of tablets in there. Have I done anything wrong ?

Hi everyone. To start ,I will preface by saying, I know that mine was a low Risk Exposure but somehow the anxiety and the catastrophizing doesnt go away. Plus a bit alone in this journey thats why I am turning towards the community.

I had a Protected vaginal sex and oral sex (new condom each time) with a random girl. As far as I know and saw,there was no breakage or leakage. Couple of hours later I started spiralling and going into what if the condom broke, or she was positive etc etc. I got started on PEP (Biktarvy) roughly 8-9 hours post Exposure. Been two weeks so far.

By all accounts ,this is a low Risk event, but somehow the anxiety is killing me. I keep drudging up hypotheticals on how maybe the condom broke,or there was a micro tear,or what if she was positive , or what if the pep fails.

I try to ground myself by saying that pep is super effective but then my brain comes up with maybe you will be the exception. You will be 0.01% that fails etc etc.

I am just looking for Advice on how to deal with these thoughts ,and anxious spirals of excessive research paired with reassurance seeking.

I felt the best way was to turn to people who may have gone through the same or worse and still everything went turned up okay.

Any help/advice ,personal success stories are welcome.

After finishing pep if both tests came back negative say dat after. Is that with follow up 4th gen 2 weeks later conclusive?

Im currently on day 16 on pep but as of lately I've been feeling really warm on my forehead, temples, and ears but no fever thankfully. My anxiety is up and down. Trying to remain calm. I started pep right at 48 hours. According to a few people my risk was generally low. (Unprotected oral sex. And he inserted the head of his penis inside my vagina roughly 4-5 times) but full blown sex was finished with a condom-edit to add, I Do NOT know his status- Im just paranoid and anxious but this overall warm feeling is driving me insane.

I had an exposure 45 days ago, and I started PEP about 45 hours later. The first week was really hard I couldn’t sleep and I was stressing a lot. During the second week, I tried to get back to my normal routine by taking long walks, watching movies, and continuing my job as usual. I made sure to take my pills every day at 9:00 PM.
I got tested 10 days after the exposure and the result was negative. I tested again after 18 days, and that was negative too. My most recent test was two weeks after finishing PEP (about 45 days after the exposure), and it also came back negative. My doctor told me I don’t need to worry and said this is considered a final result, although I’ll still do another test in June for peace of mind.
I’ve seen a lot of people here stressing and feeling scared, and I completely understand that feeling. One thing I learned through this experience is to stay consistent with your medication, take your pills on time, drink plenty of water, stay active, and try to keep your mind calm.
Some side effects I experienced were extra saliva in my mouth and a little itching on my body, but those symptoms stopped after the first week of starting PEP.
If anyone has questions, feel free to DM me or ask here. And please if you’re on PEP, take your pills on time and complete the full 30 days.

Peo help

I was at a Spa today and while having sex with her my condom broke and i came inside. I think when I was first inserting via her ass it ripped but when I took out from vagina after I came i realised it was tore.

Now I went to doctor within hours. He asked few questions like is there blood, burning sensation etc. And none of it was there. So he didn't prescribed pep but some medicine for 5 days to avoid and infection. I am still in 72 hours window and wondering should I get PEP. I am concerned due to side effects.

Hello! I posted on here a bit a ago and I wanted to update. I am currently 70 days post exposure ( 6 weeks post pep).

My exposure was receptive anal, no condom. (Didn’t finish) I was drunk and stupid with a random man I met at a club. Feeling disconnected and scared I talked to my friend and ended up going to get PEP 19 hrs post exposure

I ended up taking PEP not missing a single dosage but changing my time originally taking it at eleven p.m. going down to eight p.m. and being within the eight to nine p.m. range ( I found it really useful to have a day pill container and a to keep documentation on a notes app)

Testing wise I have tested three so far. My first test
Was when receiving PEP February 28. My second test was a day after I finished PEP on March 29 (four weeks post exposure) . My last test was on May 1 ( Nine weeks post exposure). Neg on May 4th

I know I technically still have one more month to be considered fully inclusive, but hearing from the people I spoke to (Don’t have a primary care) they all so far have said I’m OK. I still will because it lines up perfectly from when my PREP stops so I have to get a blood test anyway.

Other things to note!

Go to an emergency room at least from my experience. I was treated nicely and though it took a while, they tried their best. ( one of the nurses said she was stressing for me because she had a friend in a similar situation.)

Advocate for yourself. Some doctors genuinely do not know this information or know very little. Make sure you know what medication is needed, what test is needed, and even for added bonus, the scientific names of the medicine.

Seek therapy if needed (this is hypocritical because I didn’t) but I wish I did the mental strain especially because you have to wait for extended amount of time will kill. Make sure you have a good support system.

Something somebody commented underneath my other post was really important. Stop asking if they’re safe if they have a condom if they’re on PRep and protect yourself.

Thank you! I wish you all well in your journey please be careful with yourself and get on prep!

Hi everyone. Would appreciate if someone has any info on this. Thanks

I'm currently on PEP (TLD) after a potential exposure on April 24th. I started 20 hours later. It was receptive anal,he used protection, but I think he took off halfway through and only put it back on at the end. I'm not sure if he finished inside or leaked, but I'm sure it wasn't intact.

Then on May 9th, I had another encounter. There was no penetration just french kiss and frottage until we both ejaculated. I'm worried because some might have touched my pee hole. Do I need to extend my PEP course because of this?

M25 here. I had a risky encounter in which I got super drunk and 80% sure I did unprotected anal (insertive) with a random gay guy (aged 20 or so) who I met at a club. Never done anything like this before, and I was way more drunk than I've ever been, and barely even remember it. I took pep around 58-60 hours after exposure as I couldn't get it over the weekend. Initially when I did a bit of research it said there's less than 1 in 1000 chance for an insertive partner and pep is 99% effective when taken within 72 hours, so I felt pretty confident and relieved that my chances were about 1 in 100,000 worst case scenario.

I have a fiance and I'm working away in USA currently. I feel awful that a one off terrible mistake that I made when incredibly intoxicated (to the point that I can't even remember anything except flashes) will ruin her life as well as mine. Gone completely sober after this as a result. Terrified to ever drink again.

However, soon after starting pep I started reading about how after 48 hours effectiveness really drops off, and how transmission probability is 1 in 161 for uncircumcised men. A lot higher if they're acutely infected. The four weeks I was on pep I was struggling immensely with anxiety and constantly thinking about it nonstop. I've had swollen lymph nodes starting in my neck then moving to armpits and groin (started in first week or so of pep, groin swelling is still ongoing) plus sore throat.

I just want to know for certain if the pep has failed or not, but I keep reading conflicting reports on when the test is conclusive, and apparently 6 weeks after finishing pep is "conclusive" but then I read that it's only 99% but treated as conclusive by most clinics. I have a RNA test that I was planning on taking at day 15 post pep, but I've also read that it can take longer for viral RNA to rebound after pep.

Starting to wish that I never took pep, so I could have had a 99% accurate rna test 14 days ago and then have almost definite answer in a few days, instead of waiting in unbearable distress with all the uncertainty around how long pep will delay seroconversion.

Really struggling and in a dark place right now. Anyone got any advice on how to get through this period? Thanks in advance