How PrEP can benefit those who are at high risk of HIV infection:
“Most importantly, PrEP can definitely prevent an HIV-negative person from getting HIV if they take it on a daily basis. It’s not as easy as using condoms each and every time, but it is a perfectly sound option for a lot of people. Most of us aren’t at risk for getting HIV for our entire lives, but we can go through times when it is harder to be safe. During those periods, PrEP is a perfectly acceptable option to consider.”
“One really great benefit of PrEP is that it gives HIV-negative people a lot more control over HIV prevention than they may otherwise feel they have. Women and gay men sometimes have a difficult time asking or making sure their sex partners use a condom. It’s still a good idea to use condoms when on PrEP to make it even less likely that you will get HIV. But if there is any reason that a person can’t use condoms consistently, PrEP is absolutely worth considering.”
“Another significant benefit of PrEP is that many people who use it end up feeling less anxious about HIV. This can help them to think through how to make better sexual choices. So, PrEP can give you the mental and emotional space to become more proactive about your sexual health.”
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On questions about PrEP for the “at risk” to ask their health care providers:
“PrEP is only for HIV-negative people. So, the first thing to ask a provider for is an HIV test. It’s good to review possible side-effects of PrEP with a provider, and also to talk about what kind and schedule of regular check-ins are needed to monitor PrEP use. Because it is so important to making PrEP work correctly to take it every day, it can be really helpful to talk to your provider about helpful strategies to remind you to stick to a schedule.”
“Sometimes, people are concerned about using PrEP because Truvada is also a medication for treating people who are HIV-positive. But compared to getting HIV, people interested in PrEP should work this issue through. A good medical provider will definitely help you to develop a strategy to do that. That might include putting your Truvada in a different container, and thinking about where it’s best to store it.”
“Perhaps the most important thing to ask your health care provider about is whether he or she thinks you could benefit from using PrEP as part of taking care of your health, including your sexual health. A good provider will be willing, and even encourage you to talk to them about your sex life so that they can help you with any issues you might have. You have a right to expect your provider to have an honest conversation with you about this critical part of your health and happiness, and to be non-judgmental about it. If they can’t, you also have a right to find a different provider.”
The National Coalition for Sexual Health has a great guide on how to talk to medical providers. Access the Guide here. Project Inform also has information about how to work with your medical provider to have a good conversation about PrEP. Access this resource at http://www.projectinform/prep/.