Which PrEP is right for you?
Pill, lenacapavir or CAB-LA.
Nigeria now has three ways to take PrEP. All of them work. The right one is the one that fits your life, your health and your privacy. Here is how they compare, side by side.
Medically reviewed by Jude Ozioko, Pharmacist (PCN 024035) • Last reviewed October 2026
⚠️ Possible exposure in the last 72 hours? You need PEP first, not PrEP. Get PEP →
Not long ago, PrEP in Nigeria meant one thing: a pill every day. That’s still a great option for many people. But there are now two long-acting injections as well, and for some people they’re a far better fit.
Here’s the honest truth: the most effective PrEP is the one you’ll actually keep using. A daily pill that sits in a drawer protects no one. An injection you’d dread every two months might not last either. So rather than ranking them, this guide helps you match the option to your life.
Which one sounds like you?
Daily pill
One tablet every day- Are comfortable with a daily routine
- Want the lowest cost
- Like being able to stop and start easily
- Have healthy kidneys
Lenacapavir
One injection every 6 months- Forget pills, or hate taking them
- Don’t want any medicine at home
- Want the fewest appointments
- Have kidney problems
CAB-LA
One injection every 2 months- Want an injection, not pills
- Don’t mind a visit every two months
- Have kidney problems
- Can’t use lenacapavir for a medical reason
How the three compare.
| Daily pill | Lenacapavir | CAB-LA | |
|---|---|---|---|
| How often | Every day | Every 6 months | Every 2 months, after two starter injections a month apart |
| How it’s given | Tablet by mouth | Small injection under the skin of the belly, with tablets on the first two days | Injection into the buttock muscle |
| When protection starts | About 7 days for anal sex, about 21 days for vaginal sex | Soon after starting, with the loading tablets | Soon after the first injection |
| Evidence | About 99% effective for sex when taken every day | Zero infections among 2,134 women in PURPOSE 1 | Prevented more infections than the daily pill in trials |
| Missed doses | The main risk: protection drops if you skip pills | Very hard to miss: two dates a year | Must stay on schedule, within a week of each due date |
| Privacy at home | Tablets to store | Nothing to store | Nothing to store |
| Common side effects | Mild stomach upset in the first weeks | A small lump at the injection site, often lasting weeks | Sore injection site for a few days |
| Kidneys | Needs kidney checks | No kidney checks needed | No kidney checks needed |
| Hepatitis B | Also treats hepatitis B | Does not treat hepatitis B | Does not treat hepatitis B |
| Stopping | Simple: 7 days after your last exposure | Long tail: needs a bridge to the pill if still at risk | Long tail: needs a bridge to the pill if still at risk |
| Through Zivoko | Available now, delivered | Available now, injection arranged near you | Available on request |
Every option needs a negative HIV test before you start, and regular HIV testing while you use it.
Four questions to ask yourself.
1. Will I really take a pill every single day?
Be honest. If you already forget vitamins, or your routine changes a lot with travel, shifts or nights out, an injection removes the biggest risk of PrEP failing: missed doses.
2. Can I keep medicine at home privately?
If you share a room, live with family, or worry about someone finding tablets, the injections leave nothing behind. Lenacapavir means just two private appointments a year.
3. Do I have kidney problems or hepatitis B?
Kidney problems point towards the injections. Hepatitis B needs a conversation first: the pill treats it, the injections don’t, and stopping the pill must be managed carefully.
4. How long will I need PrEP?
If you only need protection for a short, defined period, the pill is easiest to start and stop. Injections are best for longer stretches, because stopping them needs a plan for the tail period.
Read more about each option.
For the full detail on each one: daily vs on-demand pill dosing, how lenacapavir works, and CAB-LA in Nigeria. When you’re ready, here’s how to start, and if you ever need to stop, follow how to stop PrEP safely.
Choosing PrEP.
Which PrEP is the most effective?
Can I switch from the daily pill to an injection?
Do the injections hurt?
Which PrEP is best if I have hepatitis B?
Still not sure which suits you?
Tell us about your routine and health on WhatsApp, any time of day or night, and we’ll help you choose. No judgement and no pressure. You can also take the 2 minute check first.
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