⏱️ 0–24 hours: Most effective
⏱️ 24–48 hours: Still works well
⏱️ 48–72 hours: Still offered
⛔ After 72 hours: Too late for PEP still contact a medical professional.

🗣️ What to Say at a Clinic or Hospital

Go straight to a hospital emergency room or sexual health clinic and say:

“I may have been exposed to HIV. I want to start PEP.”

“The risk was within 72 hours. Can you help me now?”

(Optional) “I do sex work and need to protect myself.”

You don’t need to prove what happened.

You can ask for:

👉 The on-call infectious diseases doctor

👉 Staff who give PEP to healthcare workers after a needle-stick injury

Call NSW PEP info line

📞 1800 737 669

They can talk directly to the hospital staff on your behalf.

🏥 Where Can You Get PEP in NSW?

Any public hospital Emergency Department (ED)

Sexual health clinics during business hours

Some GPs who understand HIV

❗ If a Doctor or Nurse Refuses to Help…

Stay calm and say:

“ASHM and NSW Health say PEP should be offered within 72 hours after risk. Can you call the HIV specialist on-call or refer me now?”

📲 Show them:
🔗 NSW PEP Guidelines – ASHM

Still refused? You can and should make a complaint. 👇

📝 How to Make a Complaint in NSW

If a hospital or clinic refused you PEP, made you feel judged, or delayed care:

Write down what happened:

Who you spoke to
What was said
Date, time, place

Complain to the NSW Health Care Complaints Commission (HCCC):
🖱️ www.hccc.nsw.gov.au
📞 1800 043 159

You can also complain nationally via:
🔗 AHPRA

Complaints help stop it happening to others — even if you're anonymous.

🙋 Where to Get Support

❤️ SWOP NSW – Support for sex workers

🧑‍⚕️ Thorne Harbour Health – HIV/STI help

🆘 If you were assaulted: Sexual Assault Services NSW

✅ Remember:

✔️ PEP works — but only if you act fast
✔️ You don’t need to explain everything — just ask for it
✔️ You can ask a doctor, nurse, or hospital
✔️ You deserve respect, care, and access no matter your job or visa.

👨‍⚖️ Final Word

🫵 Your health matters.
PEP is your emergency safety net.
Don’t let anyone shame or delay you.
If they do report them. Help protect others, too.

Help Getting PEP

ℹ️ Drug Info

Doxy-PEP (doxycycline as post-exposure prevention) is a new way to reduce the risk of getting STIs like chlamydia, syphilis, and gonorrhoea, especially for people who are having sex with multiple partners or doing sex work.

But some doctors still say no, don’t understand it, or judge you.

This section helps you:

Know what Doxy-PEP is
Ask for it clearly
Push back with confidence
Complain if you’re mistreated

📌 What is Doxy-PEP?

💊 Doxy-PEP = taking 200mg of doxycycline within 72 hours of unprotected sex, sexual assault or a condom break.

👉 It’s used after sex to prevent certain STIs, just like PEP is used to prevent HIV.

🧑‍⚕️ Doxy-PEP is NOT for everyone. But if you’re a:

Male sex worker
Client with multiple partners
Person having frequent casual sex you can ask about it.

🗣️ How to Ask for Doxy-PEP

At a clinic or doctor, say:

“I’m at high risk of STIs and would like to use Doxy-PEP for prevention.”

“I know the studies support its use. Can we discuss if it’s right for me?”

You don’t need to “prove” your sex life.
You don’t have to wait for an STI first.
You deserve to be taken seriously.

🧠 What the Evidence Says

✔️ Doxy-PEP has been shown to reduce:

Chlamydia by 70%
Syphilis by 80%
Gonorrhoea by 0%-50% (varies)

🧪 Based on the DoxyPEP Study (2022–23):

🔗 https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03980223

📢 NSW Health and ASHM are currently reviewing guidance — but doctors can prescribe it now off-label, the same way they do many other meds.

❌ What If You’re Told:

“It’s not approved.”
“It’s not necessary.”
“We don’t do that here.”
“Come back when you’ve had an STI.”

👉 These are not good enough.

You can say:

“Off-label use is common in sexual health. I’m informed and requesting it for STI prevention.”

“ASHM supports individualised care. Can I be referred to a sexual health doctor if you’re not comfortable prescribing?”

📝 If You’re Judged or Denied:

You can make a formal complaint if:

You were refused unfairly
You felt shamed or judged
A doctor dismissed your request without proper discussion

NSW Complaint Options:

🆘 NSW Health Care Complaints Commission
🔗 www.hccc.nsw.gov.au
📞 1800 043 159

🆘 AHPRA (for GPs or nurses)
🔗 https://www.ahpra.gov.au

🆘 Support:

🌈 SWOP NSW

❤️ Thorne Harbour Health

You don’t need to make a legal case. Just say what happened. Complaints help stop medical stigma.

✅ Bottom Line

✔️ Doxy-PEP is real, effective, and available
✔️ You can ask for it without shame
✔️ Doctors can prescribe it now
✔️ You don’t have to wait until you catch something
✔️ You can complain if you're dismissed or treated badly

👨‍⚖️ Final Word

🫵 Your body, your health, your right to protect yourself.

Help Getting Doxy-PEP

ℹ️ Drug Info

Help Getting PrEP

PrEP is a daily pill or 6 monthly injection that helps to protect you from getting HIV through sex or needle sharing.

In Australia, it’s approved, subsidised, and available but some doctors still don’t understand it.

This section is for you if:

👉 You were told “you don’t need PrEP”

👉 A clinic refused to prescribe it

👉 You’re unsure how to ask

✅ What to Bring or Say

✔️ “I want PrEP to protect myself from HIV.”
✔️ “I’m eligible and understand the guidelines.”
✔️ “Can you help me get started, or refer me?”

Common Excuses You Might Hear:

🚫 “You’re not high risk”
🚫 “You don’t qualify”
🚫 “We don’t prescribe that here”
🚫 “Wait until you catch an STI first”

👉 None of these are valid.
In NSW, anyone at risk, including sex workers and clients, can access PrEP.

🗣️ What to Say at the Clinic:

Here are simple ways to ask for PrEP:

“I’m sexually active and want PrEP to prevent HIV.”

“I meet the risk guidelines. Can I start PrEP?”

(Optional) “I do sex work and want to protect myself.”

That’s enough. You don’t need to explain more.

📄 What the Guidelines Say:

Australian PrEP guidelines support access for:

Men who have sex with men
Trans or cis male sex workers
Anyone with multiple partners or inconsistent condom use

📲 Show this to your doctor if they push back:

🔗 ASHM PrEP Guidelines

❗ If a Doctor Says “No”...

Stay calm and say:

“I’m eligible under ASHM guidelines. Could you refer me to someone who does prescribe PrEP?”

If they still refuse, you can make a formal complaint. 👇

🧑‍⚕️ Need Help or Support?

If you're unsure what to say or want backup, reach out to:

🌈 SWOP NSW – Support for sex workers
❤️ Thorne Harbour Health – HIV/sexual health support

You can complain anonymously or get help writing it up.

📝 How to Make a Complaint in NSW

If you were judged, denied PrEP unfairly, or treated badly:

Write it down:

What was said
Date/time/location
How it made you feel

Make a complaint to the NSW Health Care Complaints Commission (HCCC):
🖱️ www.hccc.nsw.gov.au
📞 1800 043 159 (Monday to Friday)

You can also make a national complaint via:
🔗 AHPRA

👨‍⚖️ Final Word

You don’t need to be gay. You don’t need to prove anything.
If you’re working or having sex with multiple partners, you qualify.

🫵 Your safety matters. You have the right to protect yourself.
If one doctor says no, find one who listens.
If they treat you badly, speak up.

ℹ️ Drug Info