One Pill Can Change Your Life: Is PrEP is right for you?
A significant medical advancement in the fight against HIV/AIDS is PrEP – short for pre-exposure prophylaxis. People at risk of getting HIV can take a daily pill to greatly reduce their risk of infection.
The pills – under the brand names Truvada or Descovy – contain two medicines used in combination with other medicines to treat HIV. So, according to the Department of Health and Human Services, when someone is exposed to HIV either through sex or injection drug use, these two medicines work to keep the virus from establishing a permanent infection.
When taken consistently, PrEP reduces the risk of HIV infection in high-risk people by up to 92 percent.
This means PrEP can be a powerful tool in preventing HIV. Effectiveness increases even more when combined with other prevention methods such as condoms. Those who plan to take PrEP commit to taking the medication daily and to following up with their health care provider every 3 months. Contact us now to learn more about PrEP and your sexual health.
Review These Questions
Does this mean PrEP is right for you? Review these questions below. If you answer “yes” to one or more, schedule some time to talk with your doctor about a PrEP regimen.
- Do you use condoms sometimes or not at all?
- Are your sexual partner(s) HIV-positive or of unknown status?
- Have you been on PEP (Post Exposure Prophylaxis) in the past year?
- Are you trying to get pregnant with a HIV-positive partner?
- Do you/your sex partner(s) use or inject drugs?
- Do you/your sex partner(s) exchange sex for money, housing, drugs, or other needs?
- Has your partner threatened or forced you to have sex against your will?
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