Even Me

Did you know there’s a pill that helps prevent HIV?

PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis) is a daily medication for people who don’t have HIV but may be at risk. When taken correctly, PrEP is nearly 100% effective at preventing HIV.

When visiting your GP, you can ask your doctor:

• “Can you tell me more about PrEP?”

• “I heard PrEP can help prevent HIV – is it right for me?”

• “Is PrEP available here in Western Australia?”

• “I’d like to know if I can start PrEP.”

PrEP is for everyone, including heterosexual people, and CaLD communities. If your doctor doesn’t know about it, you can find another doctor who does.

🔗 Learn more about PrEP (WAAC)
🔗 Find a doctor who understands PrEP and HIV (ASHM)

PEP (Post-Exposure Prophylaxis) is different – it’s taken after possible exposure to HIV (e.g., if a condom breaks or you had unprotected sex).

PEP must be started within 72 hours of potential HIV exposure, and the sooner the better.

You can get PEP at:

• Hospital emergency departments

• Sexual health clinics

• Some GPs familiar with HIV prevention

🔗 Find PEP near you (Get PEP)

Condoms Still Matter!

While PrEP and PEP protect against HIV, they don’t stop other sexually transmissible infections (STIs) like syphilis, chlamydia and gonorrhoea.

Condoms are an easy and effective way to protect yourself and your partners, regardless of gender or sexual orientation. They are available at pharmacies, clinics, and even supermarkets.

If you are part of an organisation that could supply free condoms, please check out our free condom page here!

HIV testing is quick, easy, and free at most clinics and with Medicare. Your results are private and confidential, and your doctor will not tell anyone what you say or what your test results are. In Australia, your health information is private by law.

Some doctors might not offer an HIV test unless you ask – and that’s okay!

If you want to speak to your GP about getting an HIV test, you can ask:

• “Can I get an HIV test today?”

• “Do you think I should be tested for HIV?”

• “I’m worried about HIV – can we talk?”

Some doctors and sexual health clinics are more experienced with HIV testing. These places are private, respectful, and will not judge. You can find a doctor experienced with HIV on the Getting an STI page on our website.

You can also test yourself using a HIV self-test kit, which takes only 15 minutes and requires just a small drop of blood.

Don’t have Medicare? No problem! Some clinics offer free or low-cost HIV testing in WA for people without Medicare, including:

• People on temporary visas

• International students

• Visitors to Australia

Getting tested is quick, safe, and a great way to care for your health. If you do not have medicare, you can visit any of the below.

🔗 M Clinic
🔗 Sexual Health Quarters (SHQ)
🔗 Royal Perth Hospital – Sexual Health Clinic

🔎 Learn more about getting tested

You can also do a free and easy self test for HIV at home or in private.

If you test positive for HIV, you can still live a full and healthy life. In Australia, HIV treatment is available to everyone, regardless of your visa or background.

HIV is managed with antiretroviral medications (ARVs). These reduce the amount of HIV in your body, known as your viral load, so much that it becomes undetectable.

If someone’s viral load is undetectable, they cannot pass it on during sex, meaning they are untransmittable.

This is referred to as Undetectable = Untransmittable, or U=U.

With early HIV treatment, you can:

• Stay strong and healthy

• Prevent passing HIV to others

• Enjoy sex and relationships safely

AIDS is a late stage of HIV, but with the right care, most people in Australia who take treatment never get AIDS.

HIV can sometimes pass from a parent to a baby during pregnancy, birth, or breastfeeding. With good medical care, this can almost always be stopped, and a person with HIV can have a safe and healthy baby.

🔎 Learn more about HIV treatment and support

Doctors are there to help you, not judge you. They can give you good advice and answer your questions about HIV and STIs.

In Australia, doctors are trained to talk about sexual health and HIV testing without judgement. You have the right to choose a doctor who speaks your language or understands your culture.

When talking to your doctor, you can say:

• “Can I ask you a question about sexual health?”

• “I want to check if I need an HIV or STI test.”

• “I heard about PrEP — is that something for me?”

By law, doctors must keep everything confidential, including:

• Your visa status

• Your sexual history

• Any test results

Talking to a partner about sexual health testing and HIV prevention is a powerful way to protect each other.

Talking openly can help you make decisions about your sexual health, like using condoms, taking PrEP, getting tested regularly, and knowing your HIV status.

When talking to your partner about sexual health, you can ask:

• “Have you been tested for HIV or STIs?”

• “I want to get tested. Want to do it with me?”

• “Have you heard about PrEP or PEP?”

• “Let’s talk about condoms and keeping safe.”

• “If we are thinking about having a baby, it is a good idea to get tested and talk about our sexual health.”

Looking after your sexual health means making choices for yourself, feeling confident, and getting support when you need it.