PrEP in Tel Aviv: HIV Prevention for the French-Speaking Community

Talking about HIV prevention is never entirely simple, even less so in a language that isn't your own, in a country where you're still discovering the healthcare system. This guide covers, in French, the basics of PrEP: what it prevents, who it's indicated for, and what follow-up it involves.

What is PrEP

PrEP, for pre-exposure prophylaxis, is a preventive medication intended for people who are HIV-negative but exposed to a risk of transmission. Taken before a potential exposure, it greatly reduces the risk of contracting the virus.

It is a prevention tool in its own right, which adds to condom use and regular screening without replacing them: these different means of prevention combine rather than substitute for one another.

Anticipating rather than reacting after the fact

The logic of PrEP is preventive: it differs from a treatment taken urgently after a potential exposure, which addresses a different indication and a different protocol. PrEP is a long-term approach, for people whose situation exposes them to a recurring risk, rather than a response to a one-off event.

A medical treatment, not an over-the-counter product

PrEP is exclusively prescribed and monitored within a medical setting: it requires an initial assessment to check HIV status and the absence of contraindications, followed by ongoing support. This is not a decision to make alone, nor a product to obtain without medical advice: this framework is precisely what guarantees its safety.

What PrEP prevents, and what it doesn't

A point that's often misunderstood: PrEP is specific to HIV. It does not protect against other sexually transmitted infections (chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis, hepatitis, among others).

That is why proper PrEP care systematically includes regular screening for other STIs, not just HIV. Reducing one risk does not mean you can stop paying attention to the others.

Who can consider PrEP

PrEP is intended for HIV-negative people who believe they are exposed to a risk of HIV transmission, for whatever reason. There is no single profile: it's an individual assessment, made with a doctor, that takes into account your situation, your practices and your concerns, without judgment.

This is also why a consultation in French can make a real difference: being able to describe your situation precisely, ask all your questions, and understand exactly what is being proposed, with no language approximation on such a personal subject.

What medical follow-up is needed once treatment has started

PrEP is not a treatment you take "once and for all" without support. Regular medical follow-up is necessary, and generally includes:

• Regular HIV screening, to confirm the treatment remains suited to your status.
• Screening for other STIs, since PrEP does not cover them.
• Monitoring of kidney function, as certain PrEP treatments can affect the kidneys, which need to be monitored over time.

Key takeaway: PrEP is a medical treatment in its own right, with regular follow-up, not a one-off step. This follow-up is what guarantees both its effectiveness and its safety.

Why kidney function receives particular attention

Some medications used in PrEP are eliminated by the kidneys, which is why their function requires regular monitoring, especially in people who already have known kidney fragility. This biological monitoring, done with a simple blood test, allows the treatment to be adjusted or adapted if needed, well before any problem becomes symptomatic.

A generally quarterly consultation schedule

As a general guideline, PrEP follow-up is most often organised around consultations roughly every three months, combining screening and lab work. This schedule, common internationally, balances sufficiently close support with a treatment that remains simple to live with day to day. The exact schedule is always to be defined with your doctor, based on your situation.

Why see a general practitioner, and not only a specialised centre

In Israel as elsewhere, PrEP can be followed up in general medicine, as part of comprehensive, confidential medical care, rather than through a separate pathway that can sometimes be harder to access. This is one of the areas covered at Dr Dylan Mergui's clinic in Tel Aviv, alongside STI screening and contraception.

For a newcomer, this has a double benefit: a single medical point of contact, in French, for sexual prevention as well as for the rest of your health follow-up, and continuous care without having to repeat your history at every new appointment.

In short

• PrEP is a preventive treatment reserved for HIV-negative people exposed to a risk of HIV transmission.
• It is specific to HIV: it does not replace condoms or screening for other STIs.
• It requires regular medical follow-up (HIV, other STIs, kidney function).
• It can be followed up in general medicine, in French, at Dr Mergui's clinic in Tel Aviv, for example during an annual health check-up.

Would you like to discuss PrEP or get tested confidentially, in French? Book an appointment at Dr Mergui's clinic, 8A Frishman.

This article is for informational purposes and does not replace a medical consultation. Only a doctor can assess whether PrEP is suitable for your situation and provide follow-up.