Curious about people's experiences with Yeztugo (lenacapavir), the new 6-month PrEP shot? The promise of effective HIV protection with just two doses a year has generated plenty of interest. It’s also raised plenty of questions, like:

  • Is it worth the switch from daily oral PrEP pills?
  • Does the injection hurt? (And how much?)
  • Are there any side effects?
  • How do you actually get Yeztugo?

To get the answers, we looked beyond the data and talked to seven people who were among the first to receive Yeztugo in the United States since it was approved by the FDA in June 2025:

  • Five people who switched directly from daily PrEP pills
  • Two people who switched from the 2-month injectable PrEP Apretude, after taking oral PrEP in the past

They shared their stories about switching to Yeztugo, from the relief of ditching daily pills or fewer doctors’ visits, to the honest reality of injection discomfort and the “bumps” that follow.

These are personal experiences, and aren’t reflective of everyone who receives Yeztugo. But whether you’re interested in trying Yeztugo or just staying informed, these first-hand accounts can provide information to help you advocate for your own health.

Why do people want to start Yeztugo?

Yeztugo’s big breakthrough is its 6-month dosing schedule, and unsurprisingly, every single person we spoke to brought it up as a major reason they were interested. Some people struggled with taking oral PrEP daily, which is necessary for it to be fully effective:

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‍Aidan: “My only issue with the daily PrEP was that I would sometimes forget to take it when I was traveling, and I've been on the road more in the past one to two years. So not having to worry about taking a pill every day is especially helpful.”
‍Brian: “It's so much easier, I think, than taking a daily pill. And it's more reassuring to me that it's working.”
‍Sarah: “It’s a lot easier than taking pills every day.”

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Robert, who had tried both Truvada and Descovy, told us: “I was intrigued because, who wants to take a pill every day? I already take a lot of pills, so it was nice not having to take another one. Plus, a shot every six months — I thought that was freaking amazing, you know?”

That was also a motivator for Devon, who had originally switched from oral PrEP to 2-month injectable PrEP before discovering Yeztugo because, “Just personally, I'm trying to stop taking pills every day. I'll be old enough soon where I'll have to, so I don't want to right now.” But he was intrigued by Yeztugo, which would require fewer trips to the doctor. “It became a hassle of just having to go to the doctor every two months. That was also my motivation for trying out this six month deal.”

How the injections feel

One dose of Yeztugo consists of two shots injected into the belly or thigh by a healthcare professional every six months. While people are excited to only have to get a dose twice per year, most are understandably not as excited about needles.

But how much do the shots actually hurt? It turns out, it depends. Most of the people we spoke to thought getting Yeztugo injected was only a little painful:

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Sarah: “It hurt, but not as bad as the internet made it seem. It felt like any other shot. It just lasted a lot longer. I thought it took about 45 seconds to a minute.”
Devon: “It wasn't that bad. I mean, I guess you could describe it as a bee sting, but it's like any other shot. If you've had numbing injections, it's exactly like that.”
Brian: “Not too bad. It's a really thick liquid that they inject in you. I want to say it took like 20 to 30 seconds per shot which was interesting and it stung a little bit like a bee sting. It hurt a bit after but nothing over the top.”
Paul: “It felt like a bee sting. Really no discomfort. Maybe some pain for about five to 10 minutes after and then and that was it.”

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However, two of the recipients of Yeztugo found it to be more uncomfortable than other types of injections. That includes Robert, the one recipient we spoke to who received it in the thigh instead of the belly:

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Robert: “The shot was very uncomfortable. It felt more like a wasp or a huge hornet just stung me and then just kept it there for like a few seconds.”
Aidan: “I got the first shot and it hurt. It hurt a lot. I was expecting like a flu shot or COVID shot kind of thing, but this was like a short needle and it goes kind of under the skin... it feels like a lot of medication to put under the skin. I needed a second before the next shot."

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People react to pain differently, so it’s no surprise to see a range of reactions. But there are other factors that could influence how the injection feels, such as where Yeztugo is injected or the familiarity of the clinician with this type of injection. Alex told us that each of his two shots during his first dose felt completely different:

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Alex: “She gave me the first one and the first one did not hurt at all. Like I did not even feel it. I said, 'Oh my god, this is so good.' And then she gave me the second one. And that one hurt. That one was like stinging.”

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Several recipients also described the formula itself as “thick” or “gloopy.” Because Yeztugo is a viscous (thick) formula, it can feel quite a bit different from other types of injections. Yet this formulation is part of what allows Yeztugo to remain effective under the skin for 6 months at a time.

Reactions after the injection

None of the recipients of Yeztugo we spoke to experienced side effects such as headaches or nausea, which a small number of people can experience when starting PrEP. Side effects were limited to temporary pain and swelling, along with small bumps under the injection site that remained longer term.

Temporary pain and swelling

The most common side effect of Yeztugo is pain and swelling at the injection site. What people experienced varied, but it mostly aligned with how they felt during the injection itself.

Paul, who said he felt “really no discomfort” from the injection itself, felt no pain after ten minutes. But the majority of recipients of Yeztugo we spoke to had some swelling and pain for up to two weeks after:

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Alex: "I did have pain the first week, especially in one of the two injection spots. There was some bruising that went away like a week later. When I would make sudden movements like checking my blind spot, I could feel pain on my left side. But it went away after a week.”
Sarah: "I thought it was going to be terrible because so many people said such bad things, and I had a hockey game to go to after that. But it was really just tender if I touched it for probably about five days.”
Devon: “Day one through five, the injection site was a little tender and swollen. Like cut a lemon in half and stick it under your skin and that was what one side looked like. The other side was a little smaller.”

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The two people who had the most discomfort during the injections, Aidan and Robert, also felt significant discomfort afterwards. Of everyone we spoke to, Aidan was the only one uncertain about continuing Yeztugo in the future: "I'm still considering whether I'll stay on Yeztugo because of the discomfort and the swelling.”

But for Robert, who was passionate about getting away from daily pills, the discomfort is a small price to pay. "Maybe I'm just a chicken when it comes to pain, but I thought it was quite painful. But if I only had to do it every six months, I mean, it's worth it. I'm willing to deal with it as opposed to taking a pill every single day.”

The Yeztugo bumps

Every recipient we spoke to mentioned the presence of persistent “bumps” or “nodules” under the skin where the injection occurred, describing them as the size of a mosquito bite or quarter. Unlike swelling that generally reduces within a week or two, these smaller, painless bumps often remain — because they’re actually the deposit of Yeztugo that gets slowly released over the 6-month period.

Since they’re painless, most people we spoke to didn’t mind them:

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Alex: “I also have these nodules which are like drug deposits... the one that I got on my right side is bigger. I want to say it's probably a good 3cm big, but both of them have gotten smaller now.”
Sarah: “The little bumps, like you can't see them, but you can feel them. They were a lot more pronounced for about a week and a half, and now it feels like rubbing over a mosquito bite.”
Robert: “There's this little lump on my leg, but it doesn't hurt.”

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Brian told us he found their presence a reminder of how he was actively being protected: “I know it sounds maybe a little weird, but it's almost reassuring to be able to just touch my stomach and feel the active effective PrEP there.”

However, some people called out how the bumps could be considered aesthetically displeasing, and how that could affect uptake in the gay community. Paul, who didn’t mind the bumps himself, told us: “Especially in the Castro, these gays are are very concerned with their image... so yeah, I know I can imagine they might have a bigger issue [with the bumps] than me.”

Devon was one such person. “They must not have had anyone gay on this research team, because who wants to walk around with two bumps on their stomach? If I had probably an inch less fat on my stomach, they would be super noticeable.”

Aidan also didn’t love the bumps, but told us that he tried to see them as a reminder of Yeztugo’s benefits for him. “I just try to remind myself that like, okay, I'm not having to worry about taking a pill every day. And especially that's helpful when I'm traveling or if my schedule gets thrown off for whatever reason. And so I'm just trying to put the bumps in that context.”

The key to access: an engaged provider

Yeztugo, which was first approved by the FDA in June 2025, isn’t that easy to get simply because it’s so new. Not every healthcare provider may offer it, and not every insurance provider covers it yet. Even when they do, actually getting that coverage can be complicated and confusing.

So it makes sense that every person we spoke to who succeeded in getting Yeztugo had the support of a healthcare professional that was compassionate and engaged. Brian and Sarah’s providers began discussing Yeztugo with them before it was ever approved. Aidan’s doctor proactively recommended Yeztugo during a routine screening and then fought to get it covered by Aidan’s insurance.

Robert, who works in the medical field themselves, reached out to Freddie to discuss injectable PrEP and got a call back telling him he was covered for Yeztugo the very next day. Robert described not having to take a pill every day as “freaking amazing,” a sentiment shared by almost everyone we talked to. But Yeztugo won’t be the best fit for everyone, which is why it’s crucial to talk to a healthcare provider that understands. As Robert told us, “I believe that being very upfront and open with your doctor, asking questions, and making sure you completely understand the medication is so important.”

If you’re interested in Yeztugo, contact a healthcare provider to discuss your options. You can talk to a Freddie clinician for free to ask any questions and find out when Yeztugo could be available for you.

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