Did you know there is a pill to prevent HIV? Pre-exposure prophylaxis, also known as PrEP, is a safe and effective daily pill that can greatly reduce your risk of HIV infection. PrEP is prescribed for HIV-negative people who are at a higher risk for getting HIV, most commonly through sex, injection drug use, or sharing needles. A lot of people still don\u2019t know about the benefits of using PrEP to protect against HIV. That\u2019s why the New York State Department of Health has declared October 20 \u2013 26 as PrEP Aware Week. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIf you are exposed to HIV, the medicines in PrEP stop the virus from spreading throughout your body, preventing an HIV infection\u201d explains Brenden Bedard, Director of Community Health Services of Genesee and Orleans Counties. \u201cPeople at high risk for getting HIV should talk to their healthcare provider about starting this preventative treatment.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), when taken daily, PrEP is highly effective for preventing HIV. Studies have shown that PrEP reduces the risk of getting HIV from sex by about 99% when taken daily. Among people who inject drugs, PrEP reduces the risk of getting HIV by at least 74% when taken daily. PrEP is much less effective if it is not taken consistently1. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Before you start PrEP, your doctor will test you to make sure that you do not have HIV and that your kidneys and liver are healthy. While you are on PrEP, your doctor will test you every three months for HIV and at least every six months for other STIs. Even though PrEP is one important tool for protecting yourself from HIV, you can further reduce your chance of getting HIV by using condoms during sex and by using new sterile (clean) needles if you inject drugs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The CDC offers these guidelines on people who should consider taking PrEP: Anyone who is in an ongoing relationship with someone who is HIV-positive. \uf0b7 Gay or bisexual men who have sex without a condom or have been diagnosed with an STI in the past 6 months. \uf0b7 Heterosexual men or women who do not regularly use condoms with partners with an unknown HIV status who are at substantial risk for HIV infections (people who inject drugs). \uf0b7 People who have injected drugs in the past 6 months and have shared injection equipment or have been in treatment for injection drug use in the past 6 months.
Many insurance plans, including Medicaid, cover PrEP. Assistance may also be available if you are uninsured or if your co-pay or deductible is too high. For additional information about PrEP, including a directory of medical providers who prescribe PrEP, and information about resources to pay for PrEP, please visit www.health.ny.gov\/PrEP. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
For information about Health Department services contact: Genesee County Health Department at: 344-2580 ext. 5555 or visit their website at www.co.genesee.ny.us\/departments\/health\/index.html. Visit Facebook at: Genesee & Orleans County Health Departments and Twitter: @GoHealthNY. \uf0b7 <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Orleans County Health Department at: 589-3278 or check out our website at: www.orleansny.com\/publichealth. Visit Facebook at: Genesee & Orleans County Health Departments and Twitter: @GoHealthNY. 1 PrEP. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/hiv\/basics\/prep.html#targetText=PrEP%20is%20much%20less%20effective,about%2099%25%20when%20taken%20daily. Publication last reviewed October 17, 2019. Accessed October 18, 2019. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wyoming County Health Department at: 786-8890 or visit their web site at www.wyomingco.net\/health\/main.html. Visit Facebook at: Wyoming County Health Department<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Did you know there is a pill to prevent HIV? Pre-exposure prophylaxis, also known as PrEP, is a safe and effective daily pill that can greatly reduce your risk of HIV infection. PrEP is prescribed for HIV-negative people who are at a higher risk for getting HIV, most commonly through \u2026<\/p>\n