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HIV Prevention 

Pre-exposure Prophylactic (PrEP)

  • PrEP a prevention method to help HIV-negative individuals reduce their risk of getting HIV by using anti-viral medications. 

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  • PrEP involves taking a pill every day, such as the antiretroviral Truvada or Descovy. 

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  • If on PrEP, follow-up and labs/bloodwork, including HIV/STI testing, will take place every 2-3 months at the doctor's office.

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  • PrEP takes 7 days to become effective for   receptive anal sex (bottoming). For all other activities, including vaginal and insertive anal sex (beign on top), PrEP takes 21 days to be effective. 

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  • PrEP is a prevention method to help HIV-negative individuals reduce their risk for getting HIV by using anti-retroviral medications.

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  • PrEP involves taking a single pill every day, such as the antiretrovirals Truvada (currently recommended for cis and trans men and women); Descovy (not for use in people assigned female at birth who are at risk of getting HIV from vaginal sex). 

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  • Follow-up with your doctor, including bloodwork and HIV/STI testing, will take place every 2-3 months. 

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  • PrEP takes about 7 days to become effective for receptive anal sex (bottom). For vaginal and insertive anal sex (top), PrEP take about 21 days to be effective. 

PrEP

On Demand

  • PrEP a prevention method to help HIV-negative individuals reduce their risk of getting HIV by using anti-viral medications. 

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  • PrEP involves taking a pill every day, such as the antiretroviral Truvada or Descovy. 

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  • If on PrEP, follow-up and labs/bloodwork, including HIV/STI testing, will take place every 2-3 months at the doctor's office.

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  • PrEP takes 7 days to become effective for   receptive anal sex (bottoming). For all other activities, including vaginal and insertive anal sex (beign on top), PrEP takes 21 days to be effective. 

  • ​On-demand PrEP involves taking PrEP medication right before a sexual encounter/event instead of taking the medication every day. It is known as “intermittent,” “non-daily,” “event-driven,” or “off-label” PrEP use.

 

  •  “On-demand” PrEP is taken on a “2-1-1” schedule. This means taking 2 pills 2-24 hours before sex, 1 pill 24 hours after the first dose, and 1 pill 24 hours after the second dose.

 

  • As of now, scientifc studies show that the  “2-1-1” schedule is effective for gay, bisexual men, and men who have sex with men (MSM) when having anal sex without a condom.

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  • There are not enough studies available to show  how “on-demand” PrEP works for heterosexual men and women, people who inject drugs, and transgender persons.

Post-exposure Prophylactic (PEP)

  • PEP involves taking medication after possible exposure to HIV, such as condom-less sex, condom break, sexual assault, sharing injection equipment, or needlestick injury

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  • PEP MUST be taken within 72 hours from exposure and is taken every day for 28 days. 

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  • PEP is used for emergency situations, consider PrEP for longtime use. 

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  • Testing for HIV will take place before and after being on PEP. 

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Condoms, Clean Syringes, Other Prevention Methods

  • Other prevention methods can be used to effectively reduce contracting HIV.

 

  • Use new, clean syringes and injection equipment every time you inject. If unable to do so, disinfecting or using bleach to clean your injection equipment can be as effective.

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  • Condoms help prevent HIV for higher risk sexual activities like anal or vaginal sex, and for lower risk activities, like oral sex and sharing sex toys.

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HIV Undetectable=

Untransmittable

(U=U)

  • Clinical evidence supports that people living with HIV who achieve and maintain a consistent undetectable viral load—the amount of HIV in the blood—by taking antiretroviral therapy (ART) daily as prescribed cannot sexually transmit the virus to others; thus, undetectable = untransmittable.

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  • U=U applies to transmission through sex only and does not protect against STIs. 

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  • Although someone may be undetectable, they are still living with HIV; therefore, ART is still required daily to prevent transmission.

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