HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus that affects cells in the body that help it fight infections, making a person more susceptible to other infections and diseases.You should know about medications to help prevent HIV. You can get infected with HIV throughdirect contact with certain bodily fluids of an HIV-positive individual, most commonly during unprotected intercourse (sex without a condom or HIV treatment to prevent or treat HIV), or sharing injection drug equipment spreads the virus.
What exactly is PrEP?
Pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, is an HIV preventive strategy in which people who do not have HIV take HIV medication to lower their chance of contracting the virus if they are exposed to it.The use of medication pep for HIV exposure can prevent HIV from taking root in your body and spreading throughout it. There are now just two FDA-approved daily oral PrEP medicines. PrEP is a medication that can also be given to HIV-negative adults who are at a high risk of contracting the virus through sex or injectable drug use.
Benefits of taking PrEP
When used as directed, PrEP is highly effective. You should know that PREP took before HIV exposure.The once-daily medication lowers the chance of contracting HIV through intercourse by more than 90%. It reduces the risk of drug overdose by more than 70% in persons who inject narcotics.
If you combine PrEP with condoms and other HIV preventive techniques, your chances of contracting HIV via sex are even reduced. Pre-exposure prophylaxis (or PrEP) is a type of HIV prevention medication. When used as directed, PrEP is very successful at preventing HIV.
- PrEP helps to reduces the risk of contracting HIV through intercourse by nearly 100%.
- PrEP lowers the risk of contracting HIV from injecting drugs by at least 74%.
When PrEP is not taken as directed, it is less effective. Because PrEP only protects against HIV, condom use is still necessary to prevent other STDs.Know about PREP medication taken daily but in a limited quantity. If PrEP is not accepted as advised, condom use is equally necessary to help prevent HIV.
Is PrEP a Good Option for You?
If you are HIV-negative, have had anal or vaginal sex in the last six months, and have a sexual partner with HIV, PrEP may be beneficial (especially if the partner has an unknown or detectable viral load),have not worn a condom regularly, orIn the last six months, you have been diagnosed with an STD. PrEP is also suggested for those who inject drugs and share needles, syringes, or other injection equipment with an HIV-positive injection partner.
Is PrEP a Safe Option?
PrEP is entirely risk-free. People who are HIV-negative and have taken PrEP for up to 5 years have shown no substantial health impacts. Some PrEP may experience adverse effects like nausea, but these are usually minor and fade away with time. If you are using PrEP, let your doctor know if you're experiencing any adverse effects bothering you or aren't going away.
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