What PrEP services do you offer?
We provide comprehensive PrEP care, including initial assessment, labwork, medication, and follow-up. We also offer immunizations, STI testing, sexual health education, and many other services relevant to people who take PrEP.
PrEP visits are currently offered only by appointment, with availability Monday through Friday. Patients receive prevention education, testing, and access to PrEP medication if indicated.
Please call (410) 612-1779 for an appointment. Some services may be available virtually via telehealth.
Clinic location:
Harford County Health Department
1321 Woodbridge Station Way
Edgewood, MD 21040
What is PrEP?
PrEP is a once-daily pill you take to prevent HIV. Some people think of it like birth control for HIV.
What is PrEP? What does it do? Watch the videos below to learn more:
Who is PrEP for?
PrEP is for people who do not have HIV but are at risk for contracting it. If you are sexually active and meet one of the following criteria, PrEP may be right for you if you:
- have a sexual partner who has HIV (especially if the partner has an unknown or detectable viral load),
- do not consistently use condoms, or
- have been diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection (STI) in the past 6 months
How does PrEP work?
The medications used for PrEP are also used to treat someone who has HIV. For someone who has HIV the medications keep the virus in check. For someone who doesn’t have HIV these same medications stop the virus in its tracks, preventing you from contracting it in the first place. You could think of it as building a wall inside of you to defend your body against HIV.
How do I pay for my PrEP?
We accept most insurances. If you are uninsured we will assist in enrolling in health insurance or offer our income-based sliding scale discount. Our nurse case manager works with insurance companies to ensure your care is covered. Medication is often free after our staff assist patients in enrollment in copay assistance programs.
What about side effects?
Some people experience mild headache or nausea when they start taking PrEP, but this subsides within a few days.
Which medicine will I take?
There are two approved PrEP medications. The first, Truvada®, has been used as PrEP since 2012. Descovy®, more recently approved, comes with lower risk of side effects, is easier for your body to metabolize, and is a much smaller pill which many patients prefer.
For patients sexed male at birth, Descovy® is the medication of choice. Because of limitations in research, Truvada® is still prescribed for people sexed female at birth.
When am I protected?
You are most protected when you take your PrEP every day. Missing doses may decrease your level of protection against HIV.
PrEP is not effective right away. You should wait the following lengths of time for full protection:
For anal sex, 7 days.
For vaginal sex, 20 days.
For protection, if you inject drugs, 20 days.
Where can I learn more?
Visit our blog for more information on PrEP, HIV, STIs, harm reduction, and lots of other topics relevant to sexual health! You can also visit the sites below:
Advancing Access Co-Pay Assistance Program
CDC’s PrEP Basics
