PrEP FAQ

Health & Wellbeing - Wellness

30 Sep 2025

PrEP Made Simple: Your Fun Guide to Getting Protected at PULSE Clinic

Written by Dr. Deyn Natthakhet Yaemim (Founding Director) on 6 June 2016 – Last updated 20 January 2023

Pre-PrEP Checklist: What Do I Need?

Getting on PrEP at PULSE is easy-peasy. Here’s how:

Already have a prescription?
Show it to us and grab your PrEP right away.
Got health check results from the last 3 months?
Perfect! You can get up to 12 months of PrEP in one go.
No recent check-up?
No worries—get tested at PULSE, then stock up. You can take home fewer bottles and have the rest delivered to your door.

What Is PrEP?

PrEP = Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis. It’s a daily pill (or injection) that helps HIV-negative people stay negative. Think of it as an HIV force field:

Blocks the virus before it can take hold.
Super safe and super effective (when taken correctly).
Works for tops, bottoms, and everyone in between.

PrEP FAQ: Fast Answers

Is PrEP for tops AND bottoms?

Yes! While bottoms have a higher risk, tops can get HIV too. (Fun fact: uncircumcised tops are at slightly more risk.)

Should I take PrEP? PrEP is a smart choice if:

You sometimes have condomless sex.
Your partner is HIV-positive or at risk.
You’ve had an STI recently.
You inject drugs and share equipment.
You’ve needed PEP more than once.

How effective is it?

Daily pill = up to 99% protection from HIV.
Missing doses lowers protection (but it still works if you’re mostly consistent).
Works for people who inject drugs too (around 74% effective when taken as prescribed).

What’s inside the pill?

The OG PrEP pill is Truvada (or generics like Teno-EM, Ricovir-EM, Tenof-EM).
It has two key ingredients: TDF + FTC.
There’s also Descovy (or its generics), with TAF + FTC. Both are safe and effective.

Side effects?

Possible small effects on kidney function or bone density (around 1–3%).
Most people feel fine.
Regular check-ups (every 3 months) keep everything on track.

Who can use PrEP?

Adults and teens (77 lbs / 35 kg and above).
People at higher risk of HIV.
Couples planning pregnancy when one partner has HIV.
People who’ve used PEP before.

How to Take PrEP

One pill, once a day = maximum protection.
Missed a dose? Don’t stress—just don’t make it a habit.
You can start, stop, and restart PrEP whenever you and your doctor decide.

Can’t Visit the Clinic? Order Online!

PULSE Clinic makes getting PrEP easy. With 20 branches across Thailand, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Singapore, we’re open 7 days a week. Online orders are simple:

Send us your prescription or recent lab results.
Provide your passport copy.
Get 3–6 months of PrEP delivered to your door.

PrEP Prices at PULSE

Medication	Price (30 tablets)
Descovy (latest version)	5,450 THB
Generic Descovy (Mylan)	2,650 THB
Taficita (HIV treatment)	3,000 THB
Teno-EM (Generic PrEP)	1,300 THB
Tenof-EM (Generic PrEP)	1,100 THB

PrEP Access Across Asia: A Patchwork of Progress

Country	Public PrEP Program	Cost/Availability	LGBTQ+ Inclusion
Thailand	Yes (since 2021)	Free in many clinics	Strong NGO support
Philippines	Expanding slowly	Low-cost in pilot areas	Growing awareness
Taiwan	Yes	Subsidized	Good access in urban centers
India	Limited availability	Pilot trials only	High stigma remains
Japan	Private only	Expensive	Almost no public discussion
Malaysia	Limited NGO access	Costly and stigmatized	Criminalization concerns
Indonesia	Highly restricted	Mostly donor-funded	Strong stigma