PrEP and PEP Services

What are PrEP and PEP Services?

PrEP and PEP Services are two ways of using medicine to lower the risk of HIV. Firstly, PrEP is taken before possible exposure to keep risk low over time. Secondly, PEP is a short emergency course started soon after a possible exposure. Because both work differently, the doctor helps you choose the right one. In short, one protects ahead of time, and the other responds afterwards.

How is PrEP different from PEP?

PrEP differs from PEP mainly in timing and purpose. PrEP is ongoing protection for people with regular potential exposure. PEP, by contrast, is urgent and short, used after a specific risky event. Because PEP must start quickly, delay reduces its benefit. Meanwhile, PrEP suits steady, planned prevention. As a result, the choice depends on your situation and needs. Because the two tools cover different moments, some people use PrEP for ongoing safety and keep PEP in mind for emergencies. In this way, prevention adapts to real life rather than expecting life to follow a single plan.

Is this care confidential?

Yes, this care is strictly confidential, and privacy is a core promise. Your records, billing and prescriptions are shared only with your clear consent. Furthermore, appointments happen in a private, quiet room. Because stigma still surrounds HIV, the team protects your information carefully. If confidentiality worries you, please raise it early, and we will reassure you fully.

Who might benefit from PrEP?

People with an ongoing chance of HIV exposure may benefit from PrEP, whatever their identity. Whether you are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex or questioning, PrEP can suit you. Equally, someone whose partner has HIV may consider it. Because care is anatomy based and behaviour based, no label decides eligibility. In short, PrEP suits anyone facing regular potential exposure who wants steady protection.

When is PEP needed?

PEP is needed soon after a specific possible exposure to HIV, and time is critical. For the best chance of working, it should start within seventy two hours. Therefore, if you think you were exposed, contact the clinic urgently. Because every hour counts, do not wait for symptoms, since there may be none. The team assesses you quickly and starts PEP where appropriate. Because the clock is the main challenge, it helps to know in advance where to go. If in doubt, contact the clinic and let the doctor decide, rather than waiting and losing precious time.

What checks happen before starting?

Before starting, a few important checks protect your health. These usually include the following.

• An HIV test, to confirm your current status
• Kidney and general health checks
• A review of other medicines you take
• Testing for other infections where relevant

Because these steps guide safe prescribing, they are done first. To arrange the HIV test, see our HIV testing service.

How well do PrEP and PEP work?

Both work well when taken correctly, though no medicine offers a total guarantee. Taken as prescribed, PrEP greatly reduces the risk of getting HIV. PEP, started promptly and completed fully, also lowers risk substantially. Because adherence matters, the team explains how to take each course reliably. Still, prevention works best alongside testing and other safer sex measures. Because no single tool covers every risk, layering them gives you the steadiest protection over time.

Are there side effects?

Some people notice mild side effects, especially in the early days. These may include nausea, headache or tiredness, which often settle. Because your kidneys and general health are monitored, any concerns are caught early. If side effects trouble you, the doctor reviews your plan promptly. In most cases, the medicine is well tolerated over time. Because worries about side effects stop some people from starting, the team talks them through honestly beforehand. Should any problem appear, there are usually simple ways to manage it without abandoning your protection.

Do I still need condoms and testing?

Yes, condoms and regular testing still matter, because PrEP and PEP guard only against HIV. Other infections, such as gonorrhoea or syphilis, need separate prevention and testing. Therefore, combining methods protects you more fully. For site based checks, see our site specific STI testing. In this way, prevention becomes a complete, layered plan rather than a single step.

How often are follow up visits?

Follow up visits happen regularly, especially in the first months of PrEP. At each review, the team repeats HIV testing and checks your kidney health. Because ongoing prevention needs support, these visits also help with adherence. Meanwhile, the plan is adjusted as your life and risk change. As a result, protection stays reliable over time. Because reviews are also a chance to ask questions, they keep you informed as well as safe. If your circumstances shift, the doctor can change the schedule, the medicine or the plan to match your new needs. In this way, prevention grows with you rather than staying fixed.

Can I stop PrEP later?

Yes, you can stop PrEP when your risk changes, and this is a normal decision. However, stopping should be planned with the doctor to stay safe. Because timing matters, the team explains how to stop correctly. If your situation changes again, restarting is straightforward, and the team makes it simple. Because life brings new relationships and new circumstances, pausing and resuming prevention is entirely normal. Throughout, your choices are respected within the wider LGBTQ+ Sexual Health service.

What do these services cost?

We do not publish a fixed price, because plans and monitoring differ between people. After assessment, the team gives a clear written estimate in rupees. Moreover, the estimate covers medicine, tests and reviews separately, so costs stay clear. Because affordability matters for ongoing prevention, please discuss your options openly. Since PrEP is taken over months or years, the team helps you plan for the recurring cost sensibly.

How do I access PrEP and PEP Services?

You access PrEP and PEP Services by contacting Elegance Clinic in Surat, and urgently if you may have been exposed. Simply request an appointment, and the staff arrange a discreet slot. Because PEP is time sensitive, do not delay if exposure was recent. When you arrive, Dr. Ashutosh Shah assesses you and starts the right plan. Because prevention is a positive choice, seeking it is a sign of taking charge of your health. Whether you want steady protection or urgent cover after an event, the team responds without judgement.

Note: This page is for general information and is not a substitute for a medical consultation. Inclusive sexual health care is individual and confidential, and Dr. Ashutosh Shah and the team will guide you with respect and without judgement.