Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP)
Pre-exposure prophylaxis or “PrEP” is the use of an antiretroviral medication by HIV-negative people to reduce the risk of HIV acquisition.
As of September 2015, WHO recommends that people at substantial risk of HIV infection should be offered tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF)-based oral PrEP as an additional prevention choice, as part of comprehensive prevention. Oral PrEP is highly effective at preventing HIV when used as directed.
In 2021, WHO recommended that the dapivirine ring may be offered as an additional prevention choice for women at substantial risk of HIV and, in 2022, that long-acting injectable cabotegravir (CAB-LA) may be offered as an additional prevention choice for people at substantial risk of HIV.
In 2025, WHO expands and diversifies the HIV prevention catalogue with the recommendation of long-acting injectable lenacapavir (LEN), a twice-yearly injectable PrEP option. With these new recommendations, WHO has recommended a public health approach to HIV testing using HIV rapid tests to support delivery of long-acting injectable PrEP, including LEN and cabotegravir (CAB-LA).
Other products (e.g., multipurpose prevention products that combine antiretroviral drugs with contraception) are currently studied as additional PrEP options.
News
/global-hiv-hepatitis-and-stis-programmes-(hhs)/number-of-people-who-received-prep-by-who-region-2019-2023.png?sfvrsn=4e80210b_2 "number-of-people-who-received-prep-by-who-region-2019-2023")
Features
PrEP Implementation Tool
Publications
Guidelines on lenacapavir for HIV prevention and testing strategies for long-acting injectable pre-exposure prophylaxis
HIV drug resistance surveillance in countries scaling up pre-exposure prophylaxis – Second edition
WHO implementation tool for pre-exposure prophylaxis of HIV infection: provider module for oral and long-acting PrEP
Implementation tool for pre-exposure prophylaxis of HIV infection - Integrating STI services
Guidelines on long-acting injectable cabotegravir for HIV prevention
Differentiated and simplified pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV prevention: update to WHO implementation guidance
Consolidated guidelines on HIV prevention, testing, treatment, service delivery and monitoring: recommendations for a public health approach
HIV drug resistance surveillance in countries scaling up pre-exposure prophylaxis
Preventing HIV and other STIs among women and girls using contraceptive services in contexts with high HIV incidence
What’s the 2+1+1? Event-driven oral pre-exposure prophylaxis to prevent HIV for men who have sex with men: Update to WHO’s recommendation on oral PrEP
Prevention and control of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the era of oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV
Appropriate medicines: options for pre-exposure prophylaxis
Frequently asked questions: testing for HIV, including HIV self-testing, in the context of pre-exposure prophylaxis (‎PrEP)
Preventing HIV during pregnancy and breastfeeding in the context of PrEP
Consolidated guidelines on the use of antiretroviral drugs for treating and preventing HIV infection: recommendations for a public health approach, 2nd ed
Guideline on when to start antiretroviral therapy and on pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV
PrEP demonstration projects: a framework for country level protocol development
Guidance on oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for serodiscordant couples, men and transgender women who have sex with men at high risk of HIV
Stay connected
Send us an email to join our mailing list