What about PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis or prevention) - available medications
There are approved pills and shots that have been developed to prevent transmission of HIV to people who do not carry the virus.
While condoms are a generally reliable method of protection, these medicines may add to (or in some cases replace) the use of condoms.
From the CDC and others-
Pre-exposure prophylaxis (or PrEP) is medicine taken to prevent getting HIV. PrEP is highly effective for preventing HIV when taken as prescribed.
PrEP reduces the risk of getting HIV from sex by about 99%.PrEP reduces the risk of getting HIV from injection drug use by 74%.PrEP is less effective when not taken as approved. Approved PrEP: Three medications have proven effectiveness in preventing HIV infection when taken regularly. 1 & 2: Truvada® (now also available as a generic equivalent- emtricitabine & tenofovir disoproxil fumarate ) or a very similar medicine- Descovy® (emtricitabine & tenofovir alafenamide only available as the brand name version. 3:Apretude® (cabotegravir) shots are given every other month by a healthcare provider after 2 initiation injections 1 month apart The reported study in men showed that only 12 out of 2,278 people (less than 1%) became HIV infected during the three years of the study compared to 3 times that number of infections in the comparative study arm that was supposed to be using the daily pills. PLUS Another plan for people with low frequency exposures: From the CDC- Taking PrEP pills only when you are at risk for getting HIV is known as “on-demand” PrEP. Other names for it include “intermittent,” “non-daily,” “event-driven,” and “off-label” PrEP use. On-demand PrEP with the most data is referred to as 2-1-1 PrEP. There is growing evidence that this 2-1-1 schedule of medicine provides effective protection for gay and bisexual men who have anal sex without a condom. A Canadian/French study showed it was 86% protective. 2-1-1-uses the same two medicines listed above (Truvada or Descovy) but with different doses. Dosing - take 2 tablets prior to sex (ie - when planning or likely to have an encounter). Then if you "get lucky" take another 1 tablet 24 hours after the first double dose and the final 1 tablet again 48 hours after the first double dose. *Doc Lee's Opinion These preventive pills have been shown to be very effective when they are taken like birth control- that is every day (just in case) or still fairly effective (not as protective) if they are used infrequently as 2-1-1. The studies have shown It is very important to be tested for Hepatitis B prior to trying these medicines because they may impact Hepatitis B infection. The shot is also effective in preventing HIV infections, particularly for people who may not take the pills regularly.
PrEP reduces the risk of getting HIV from sex by about 99%.PrEP reduces the risk of getting HIV from injection drug use by 74%.PrEP is less effective when not taken as approved. Approved PrEP: Three medications have proven effectiveness in preventing HIV infection when taken regularly. 1 & 2: Truvada® (now also available as a generic equivalent- emtricitabine & tenofovir disoproxil fumarate ) or a very similar medicine- Descovy® (emtricitabine & tenofovir alafenamide only available as the brand name version. 3:Apretude® (cabotegravir) shots are given every other month by a healthcare provider after 2 initiation injections 1 month apart The reported study in men showed that only 12 out of 2,278 people (less than 1%) became HIV infected during the three years of the study compared to 3 times that number of infections in the comparative study arm that was supposed to be using the daily pills. PLUS Another plan for people with low frequency exposures: From the CDC- Taking PrEP pills only when you are at risk for getting HIV is known as “on-demand” PrEP. Other names for it include “intermittent,” “non-daily,” “event-driven,” and “off-label” PrEP use. On-demand PrEP with the most data is referred to as 2-1-1 PrEP. There is growing evidence that this 2-1-1 schedule of medicine provides effective protection for gay and bisexual men who have anal sex without a condom. A Canadian/French study showed it was 86% protective. 2-1-1-uses the same two medicines listed above (Truvada or Descovy) but with different doses. Dosing - take 2 tablets prior to sex (ie - when planning or likely to have an encounter). Then if you "get lucky" take another 1 tablet 24 hours after the first double dose and the final 1 tablet again 48 hours after the first double dose. *Doc Lee's Opinion These preventive pills have been shown to be very effective when they are taken like birth control- that is every day (just in case) or still fairly effective (not as protective) if they are used infrequently as 2-1-1. The studies have shown It is very important to be tested for Hepatitis B prior to trying these medicines because they may impact Hepatitis B infection. The shot is also effective in preventing HIV infections, particularly for people who may not take the pills regularly.
Prevention of Infections
If you believe you may have been exposed to HIV, or other infections, please call right away. The Doc Shop (913-362-0220) offers same-day or next-day treatment.
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More Effective than Chill Pills...
If you are worried you may have been exposed to a sexually transmitted infection because you found your partner has symptoms or an infection after the f(Act) :
Gonorrhea or Chlamydia (drip, drip - discharge, burning)
or
Syphilis - rash or painless open sore (chancre) on genitals, mouth or face.
You may want to use an after-exposure (Post-Exposure-Prophylaxis) treatment-
A study reported in August 2022 showed taking a common antibiotic for a short time as soon as possible after sexual exposure to bacterial infections (STI's) appears to be effective in reducing the likelihood of transmission of gonorrhea, chlamydia and syphilis.
*Doc Lee's Opinion The studies on this preventive treatment are not definitive. But this study showed the use of 200 mg of doxycycline within at most 72 hours after exposure (post-exposure prophylaxis or PEP) reduced the overall incidence of STIs by half. This study included 554 Men who have sex with men. Infections occurred in 10.3% of doxy recipients and 29% of the placebo (no treatment) group. Initially it looks like the medicines reduce infections by about half. Protection appears to work best for gonorrhea, followed by chlamydia and syphilis.
*Doc Lee's Opinion The studies on this preventive treatment are not definitive. But this study showed the use of 200 mg of doxycycline within at most 72 hours after exposure (post-exposure prophylaxis or PEP) reduced the overall incidence of STIs by half. This study included 554 Men who have sex with men. Infections occurred in 10.3% of doxy recipients and 29% of the placebo (no treatment) group. Initially it looks like the medicines reduce infections by about half. Protection appears to work best for gonorrhea, followed by chlamydia and syphilis.
Please call the Doc Shop right away if you believe you have been exposed to any sexually transmitted disease. We will help you sort your risks and determine the best options for prevention or treatment. Call 913-362-0220.