Descovy is used to treat and help prevent HIV in certain people. Learn why Descovy is not used as PrEP for females and what other options are available for HIV prevention.
Descovy is approved to treat HIV in certain adults and children, including females. However, Descovy is not approved as preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for females. This article explains why and what this means for HIV prevention options.
Note: In this article, we use the terms “women” and “men” when discussing people assigned female or male at birth. For information about the difference between sex and gender, see this article.

PrEP is a medication that helps reduce the risk of HIV before exposure. It’s recommended for people at high risk of contracting HIV from sexual contact or injection drug use.
Descovy is approved for PrEP in transgender women and men who have sex with men. However, the drug is not approved for PrEP in females at risk of HIV from vaginal sex.
The first studies of Descovy for PreP did not evaluate the prevention of HIV from vaginal sex. Because of this gap in research, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) did not approve Descovy for PrEP in females.
Since then, there has been some research into how effective Descovy is for PrEP in females. For example, a 2024 study compared Descovy to other PrEP choices for females. The study results suggest that Descovy does not lower the risk of HIV more than other available PrEP options.
Still, there is a need for more research to determine whether this drug is effective for PrEP in females. As a result, the FDA has not updated its approval, and doctors typically won’t prescribe Descovy for this use.
What happens if a woman takes Descovy for PrEP?
If a female takes Descovy for PrEP, the concern is whether it offers enough protection against HIV from vaginal sex.
PrEP works by building up protective drug levels in certain body tissues. Some research suggests that Descovy may not reach sufficient levels in vaginal tissue to offer effective HIV protection.
Since Descovy’s effectiveness for PrEP in females has not been established, choosing Descovy over an approved PrEP option may put females at risk of HIV infection.
What are the alternatives for women who need PrEP?
Females in need of PrEP have other options that are well-studied for HIV prevention. These include Truvada and Apretude, which are approved for PrEP in all genders. Barrier methods, such as condoms, also further reduce the risk of HIV.
Also, the risk of contracting HIV from a sexual partner who has HIV is much lower if the partner:
- takes antiretroviral HIV drugs consistently
- has an undetectable viral load, meaning the amount of HIV in their blood is too low to be detected on a blood test
For more information on ways to reduce HIV risk, see this article on HIV prevention.
Heterosexual males can take Descovy for PrEP if they are at risk of HIV from anal sex.
The FDA’s approval of Descovy for PrEP is based on studies with men and transgender women who have sex with men. Since these studies did not include heterosexual males at risk of HIV from vaginal sex, doctors do not typically prescribe Descovy for this use.
Healthcare professionals do not recommend Descovy for PrEP in females because of a lack of studies supporting its use for HIV prevention from vaginal sex.
However, Descovy is approved for HIV treatment in people of all genders. If a female takes Descovy for HIV treatment, it’s safe and effective when used as part of a complete treatment regimen.
If you have questions about Descovy or PrEP, talk with your doctor or another healthcare professional. They can recommend the best options to fit your needs.
Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.