Let’s Get PrEP’d by Hien Pham
on 10/21/2025 at 12:02 am- Comic »
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Who knew an HIV-prevention medication like PrEP was so effective and so accessible? My greatest gratitude to WAAC and MClinic for not just helping me with this little comic, but also for their sex education and sexual health work within my community.
Thank you to Stewart and Garry for their time, knowledge, and advice! Without them I wouldn’t have even known where to begin writing about PrEP, much less how to write about it accurately! Thank you to my editor Ziggy for his hours of research and workshopping the script with me so we could present the information we have in the most inclusive way possible! Finally, my thanks to Matthew and Erika as well for their editorial advice and for accommodating delays in this comic when I was super sick while making it.
Matts Added Note: Some of this data and advice is Aussie-coded and of it’s time (October 2025), as with any advice like this, it’s likely to change and develop; so if this weeks comic catches your interest, and you want to try this wonder-drug; make sure to do all the extra research and listen to your own-doctor’s advice!
Ever so thankful for this comic. Educational comics about drugs are TOUGH to make as fun and engaging as Hien has done here. It’s so SO good, and I know people are gonna find it ever so useful… Talking of which; I want to once again advocate for supporting OJST on PATREON; help us do what we do; and heck maybe we’ll be lucky enough to get those comics on PEP and Doxy-PEP!
Want to read more comics on HIV/Aids/STI’s/PrEP?
– Check out Silvers comic from 2018!
– Erika and I drew up a MEGA STI list a while ago…
– AND we did one about getting Tested for STI’s too!
Today’s Hien-comic is one you aught to share!
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Always looking to get more Reddit exposure too! Feel free to post work form our back catalogue or Ping me!)
↓ Comic Transcript
Let's Get PrEP'd by Hien Pham, published October 21, 2025 on ohjoysextoy.com
Hien Pham illustrates in a more realistically rendered style, using the full spectrum of colors though the backgrounds are mostly a pale blue He is a Southeast Asian cisgender heavyset man with a short, bushy, black beard, fuzzy body hair, and glasses. He is mostly bald on top, with the rest of his hair pulled back into a bun.
Page 1
"Hmm..." Hien ponders to himself seriously, tapping his finger to his pursed lips as he inspects a wall of medical brochures.
"What'cha looking for, Hien?" A ginger-bearded man asks as he saunters into the clinic waiting room. He wears a maroon bucket hat, white t-shirt, and jeans. "Want a hand with anything?"
"Well... I'm planning some sexy comic research and I'm wondering..." Nervously, Hien perspires from his temple a little as he timidly asks. "...are there options in addition to condoms that my partners and I can use to have safer sex?"
"Are you on PrEP?" The man asks, gesturing at a dark blue brochure on the wall.
"What's PrEP?" Asks Hien.
"It's a very accessible HIV-prevention medication!" The man answers while handing Hien the brochure, which is labeled "WAAC's Little Book of PrEP"
Caption: WAAC, aka the Western Australian AIDS Council!
Gesturing to another silver-haired man who is sauntering in, the bearded man offers, "Let me introduce you to Garry, one of our OG nurses here at M Clinic! He'll give you the rundown on PrEP!"
"Hello!" Chirps Gary, giving a little wave. He sports a silver scruff of hair on top with the sides shaved off, with a well-kept mustache, stubble, and multiple ear piercings. He wears wristbands on each wrist and a collared short-sleeved shirt over another longer-sleeved one, along with jeans.
Caption: M Clinic is Perth's only sexual health clinic specifically for men, trans people, and nonbinary folks who have sex with men.
Page 2
Breaking out of reality, an angelic light bursts forth from the sky with a larger-than-life-size pink-burgundy ribbon unfurling across the page. Enormous blue pills shower down with it while the word "PrEP" floats over all of it. Hien reverts into his super cartoony chibi form as he marvels at the scene taking place above him.
"PrEP, or Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis, is an HIV-prevention medication!" Garry continues, but unlike Hien he remains more realistically drawn. "In short, it helps your white blood cells block the virus from putting down roots and replicating."
Whisked to a pink scene, both Garry and Hien are chibi-fied and looking very stern in suits with sunglasses, their arms crossed over their respective chests. They are serving as bodyguards to an anthropomorphic, thankful white blood cell behind them, that blushes and clasps its hands in appreciation to its protectors. Before them, a brutal battle wages between anthropomorphic blue pills wearing the same kind of sunglasses as Hien and Garry while beating the tar out of anthropomorphic lumpy red and blue virus cells.
"HAVE MY BABIES!" Hollers a virus through weeping tears as it struggles in vain to reach the safe white blood cell.
"No dice, buddy." A tough blue pill calmly states, holding the virus back at arm's length.
Caption: Taken properly, PrEP can be up to 99% effective in preventing HIV infections!
Now back to being realistically-drawn, Garry lowers his sunglasses to conspiratorially confide with the reader, "PrEP only prevents HIV, not any other STIs! If it did, I'd be out of a job."
Caption: Safe sex with condoms is always highly recommended!
Fainting exaggeratedly back in to Hien's arms, Garry swoons, "A small number of people might experience side effects like nausea, diarrhea, bloating or headaches. I did when I took it years ago! But these effects usually go away within the first month or so."
Caption: There are two forms of PrEP: tablets and injectables.
An anthropomorphic blue pill, syringe, and vial of purple liquid hang out on the oversize floating ribbons from earlier in the page. They are sitting and laying down, looking like friends having fun at a picnic.
Caption: Here in Australia, only the pill form is approved for our Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, which cuts its price down to as low as $23 AUD per 30 tablets! That's why we're focusing only on the pill today!
Page 3
Taking out a clipboard and gesturing with his pen, Garry continues, "Much of PrEP's research and development was done for and around cis men who have sex with cis men, as they were the demographic most impacted by the HIV epidemic. Which is why there are two ways cis men can take PrEP!"
Little anthropomorphic blue pills frolic and exercise along the following instructions.
Title: DAILY
-Two pills at least 2 hours before sex.
-1 pill daily! Best to take PrEP with food!
-1 pill every day for 2 days after last sex.
Title: ON-DEMAND
To start: 2 pills at least 2 hours before sex.
To Stop: 1 pill every day for 2 days after last sex.
Caption: If you have more sex after the initial encounter, take 1 pill each day you have sex! Then, follow the To Stop schedule after your last sex!
Reviewing a thick stack of papers that have little blue sticky-notes stuck across various pages, Hien observes, "While we have limited conclusions about the effectiveness of on-demand PrEP for cis women, trans, non-binary and gender-diverse folks, we DO know that a daily PrEP schedule is both safe and successful!"
Title: DAILY
To Start: 1 pill daily for 7 days before sex.
To Continue: 1 pill daily! Best to take PrEP with food!
To Stop: 1 pill daily for 28 days after last sex.
Page 4
"Any doctor can prescribe PrEP, but some may not have all the info." Garry continues with Hien, emphasizing his words with a flick of his hand. "It's important to get all of the appropriate tests beforehand!"
Caption: PrEP doesn't interfere with hormone treatments or most common medications.
A blue PrEP pill and a trio of medications stroll by jauntily, hand in hand.
Caption: However, it may affect kidney and liver functions if you have any underlying conditions!
A kidney and liver scowl at the blue PrEP pill, who looks awkward and embarrassed.
Caption: Let your doctor know if you're on any medication, and use hiv-druginteractions.org to check for any problems!
A chibi Garry researches at his computer, with a human-sized PrEP pil, kidney, and liver looking over his shoulder.
"Whoa!" Hien exclaims, stars in his eyes with wonderment as he looks over the shoulder of Garry (Who is now drawn more realistically again) at his computer monitors. "It's got a pretty good shelf-life too! Doesn't expire for 2-3 years!"
Garry nods, adding, "It all varies country to country, of course. But, PrEP is often very accessible both in-person and online!"
Page 5
Looking down thoughtfully at the brochure in his hands, Hien muses, "It really blows my mind... Feels like a miracle that something like PrEP could happen in my lifetime."
"I know." Garry agrees solemnly. "Not to mention, there's highly-effective treatments for HIV-positive folks that reduce their viral load to undetectable levels, which renders the virus untransmittable." Garry interlocks his fingers. "An epidemic turned manageable condition, and now preventable with little sacrifice. We've come a really long way."
Returning back to chibi form, Hien anxiously asks, "Now that I'm thinking about it... if PrEP is pre-exposure, is there such a thing as post-exposure medication?"
"Good question!" Garry chirps. "There's PEP, and Doxy-PEP... although, that's a whole other kettle of fish."
From outside the clinic, we hear Hien replying, "Sounds like a new comic is in order!"
Transcribed by Erika Moen on October 16, 2025 for ohjoysextoy.com
Hien Pham illustrates in a more realistically rendered style, using the full spectrum of colors though the backgrounds are mostly a pale blue He is a Southeast Asian cisgender heavyset man with a short, bushy, black beard, fuzzy body hair, and glasses. He is mostly bald on top, with the rest of his hair pulled back into a bun.
Page 1
"Hmm..." Hien ponders to himself seriously, tapping his finger to his pursed lips as he inspects a wall of medical brochures.
"What'cha looking for, Hien?" A ginger-bearded man asks as he saunters into the clinic waiting room. He wears a maroon bucket hat, white t-shirt, and jeans. "Want a hand with anything?"
"Well... I'm planning some sexy comic research and I'm wondering..." Nervously, Hien perspires from his temple a little as he timidly asks. "...are there options in addition to condoms that my partners and I can use to have safer sex?"
"Are you on PrEP?" The man asks, gesturing at a dark blue brochure on the wall.
"What's PrEP?" Asks Hien.
"It's a very accessible HIV-prevention medication!" The man answers while handing Hien the brochure, which is labeled "WAAC's Little Book of PrEP"
Caption: WAAC, aka the Western Australian AIDS Council!
Gesturing to another silver-haired man who is sauntering in, the bearded man offers, "Let me introduce you to Garry, one of our OG nurses here at M Clinic! He'll give you the rundown on PrEP!"
"Hello!" Chirps Gary, giving a little wave. He sports a silver scruff of hair on top with the sides shaved off, with a well-kept mustache, stubble, and multiple ear piercings. He wears wristbands on each wrist and a collared short-sleeved shirt over another longer-sleeved one, along with jeans.
Caption: M Clinic is Perth's only sexual health clinic specifically for men, trans people, and nonbinary folks who have sex with men.
Page 2
Breaking out of reality, an angelic light bursts forth from the sky with a larger-than-life-size pink-burgundy ribbon unfurling across the page. Enormous blue pills shower down with it while the word "PrEP" floats over all of it. Hien reverts into his super cartoony chibi form as he marvels at the scene taking place above him.
"PrEP, or Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis, is an HIV-prevention medication!" Garry continues, but unlike Hien he remains more realistically drawn. "In short, it helps your white blood cells block the virus from putting down roots and replicating."
Whisked to a pink scene, both Garry and Hien are chibi-fied and looking very stern in suits with sunglasses, their arms crossed over their respective chests. They are serving as bodyguards to an anthropomorphic, thankful white blood cell behind them, that blushes and clasps its hands in appreciation to its protectors. Before them, a brutal battle wages between anthropomorphic blue pills wearing the same kind of sunglasses as Hien and Garry while beating the tar out of anthropomorphic lumpy red and blue virus cells.
"HAVE MY BABIES!" Hollers a virus through weeping tears as it struggles in vain to reach the safe white blood cell.
"No dice, buddy." A tough blue pill calmly states, holding the virus back at arm's length.
Caption: Taken properly, PrEP can be up to 99% effective in preventing HIV infections!
Now back to being realistically-drawn, Garry lowers his sunglasses to conspiratorially confide with the reader, "PrEP only prevents HIV, not any other STIs! If it did, I'd be out of a job."
Caption: Safe sex with condoms is always highly recommended!
Fainting exaggeratedly back in to Hien's arms, Garry swoons, "A small number of people might experience side effects like nausea, diarrhea, bloating or headaches. I did when I took it years ago! But these effects usually go away within the first month or so."
Caption: There are two forms of PrEP: tablets and injectables.
An anthropomorphic blue pill, syringe, and vial of purple liquid hang out on the oversize floating ribbons from earlier in the page. They are sitting and laying down, looking like friends having fun at a picnic.
Caption: Here in Australia, only the pill form is approved for our Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, which cuts its price down to as low as $23 AUD per 30 tablets! That's why we're focusing only on the pill today!
Page 3
Taking out a clipboard and gesturing with his pen, Garry continues, "Much of PrEP's research and development was done for and around cis men who have sex with cis men, as they were the demographic most impacted by the HIV epidemic. Which is why there are two ways cis men can take PrEP!"
Little anthropomorphic blue pills frolic and exercise along the following instructions.
Title: DAILY
-Two pills at least 2 hours before sex.
-1 pill daily! Best to take PrEP with food!
-1 pill every day for 2 days after last sex.
Title: ON-DEMAND
To start: 2 pills at least 2 hours before sex.
To Stop: 1 pill every day for 2 days after last sex.
Caption: If you have more sex after the initial encounter, take 1 pill each day you have sex! Then, follow the To Stop schedule after your last sex!
Reviewing a thick stack of papers that have little blue sticky-notes stuck across various pages, Hien observes, "While we have limited conclusions about the effectiveness of on-demand PrEP for cis women, trans, non-binary and gender-diverse folks, we DO know that a daily PrEP schedule is both safe and successful!"
Title: DAILY
To Start: 1 pill daily for 7 days before sex.
To Continue: 1 pill daily! Best to take PrEP with food!
To Stop: 1 pill daily for 28 days after last sex.
Page 4
"Any doctor can prescribe PrEP, but some may not have all the info." Garry continues with Hien, emphasizing his words with a flick of his hand. "It's important to get all of the appropriate tests beforehand!"
Caption: PrEP doesn't interfere with hormone treatments or most common medications.
A blue PrEP pill and a trio of medications stroll by jauntily, hand in hand.
Caption: However, it may affect kidney and liver functions if you have any underlying conditions!
A kidney and liver scowl at the blue PrEP pill, who looks awkward and embarrassed.
Caption: Let your doctor know if you're on any medication, and use hiv-druginteractions.org to check for any problems!
A chibi Garry researches at his computer, with a human-sized PrEP pil, kidney, and liver looking over his shoulder.
"Whoa!" Hien exclaims, stars in his eyes with wonderment as he looks over the shoulder of Garry (Who is now drawn more realistically again) at his computer monitors. "It's got a pretty good shelf-life too! Doesn't expire for 2-3 years!"
Garry nods, adding, "It all varies country to country, of course. But, PrEP is often very accessible both in-person and online!"
Page 5
Looking down thoughtfully at the brochure in his hands, Hien muses, "It really blows my mind... Feels like a miracle that something like PrEP could happen in my lifetime."
"I know." Garry agrees solemnly. "Not to mention, there's highly-effective treatments for HIV-positive folks that reduce their viral load to undetectable levels, which renders the virus untransmittable." Garry interlocks his fingers. "An epidemic turned manageable condition, and now preventable with little sacrifice. We've come a really long way."
Returning back to chibi form, Hien anxiously asks, "Now that I'm thinking about it... if PrEP is pre-exposure, is there such a thing as post-exposure medication?"
"Good question!" Garry chirps. "There's PEP, and Doxy-PEP... although, that's a whole other kettle of fish."
From outside the clinic, we hear Hien replying, "Sounds like a new comic is in order!"
Transcribed by Erika Moen on October 16, 2025 for ohjoysextoy.com