Prep And Pep For Hiv

Is It True That There Is A Medication That Can Actually Prevent Someone From Getting Hiv

Yes. PrEP involves working with a healthcare provider to make an individualized plan to take medication to prevent HIV. Clinical trials have shown that PrEP is 99% effective at reducing sexual transmission of HIV. As of January 2019, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved three medications as PrEP for HIV:

Key Points About PrEP

How Can People At High Risk Of Getting Hiv Access Prep

An HIV-negative person who wants to take PrEP needs to get a prescription from a provider who is willing to provide the necessary medical follow-up. PrEP does not need to be prescribed by an HIV specialist, but not all providers are knowledgeable about PrEP. Unfortunately, it may be difficult for clients to find a provider who is willing to prescribe PrEP.

The cost of TDF + FTC as PrEP is covered by most public and some private health insurance plans in Canada. Since TDF + FTC is available in generic drug formulations, this has brought down the cost to as low as about $250 a month, without insurance coverage. However, TAF + FTC is currently not covered by most public health insurance plans in Canada. Since TAF + FTC is only available as the brand name drug , it is much more expensive, around $1,000 to $1,200 a month.

Highly Effective Treatment Options For Preventing Hiv Transmission

Though there is currently no preventative vaccine that reduces the risk of contracting HIV/AIDS, there are now tools available to help you reduce your risk of acquiring this virus. If you are someone who is at a high risk of contracting HIV/AIDS, your doctor may recommend Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis or Post Exposure Prophylaxis depending on whether or not you have already been exposed to HIV. At Washington Health Institute, we offer both PrEP and PEP prevention treatment methods and will work with you to determine which system is right for you. PrEP is recommended for those who are HIV-negative and have not yet been exposed to HIV, while PEP is a preventative treatment that should be taken immediately after an HIV-negative person is exposed to HIV. While these methods are not a guaranteed way to prevent HIV transmission, these are essential tools that can significantly reduce your risk of contracting the disease.

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How Do You Get Prep

If you think PrEP may be right for you, visit your doctor or health care provider. PrEP is only available by prescription. Any health care provider licensed to write prescriptions can prescribe PrEP specialization in infectious diseases or HIV medicine is not required.

If you dont have a doctor, you can use the HIV Services Locator to find a PrEP provider and other HIV services near you. You can visit many community health centers for a PrEP consultation. More than 190 health centers in the 57 jurisdictions prioritized in the Ending the HIV Epidemic initiative are providing PrEP services. Many health centers in other jurisdictions also provide PrEP services.

Because PrEP is for people who are HIV-negative, youll have to get an HIV test before starting PrEP and you may need to get other tests to make sure its safe for you to use PrEP.

If you take PrEP, youll need to see your health care provider every 3 months for repeat HIV tests, prescription refills, and follow-up.

What To Expect When Starting Prep

If you are interested in seeking out Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis treatment, there are a few things youll want to do. The first step is to speak with your primary care provider and express that youd like to hear more about whether PrEP is right for your individual needs. If you and your healthcare provider determine that PrEP might be a good option for you, heres what you can expect prior to and during treatment:

HIV Testing: PrEP is only effective for patients who are currently HIV-negative and have not been exposed to HIV. If your test result comes back positive, youll need to pursue other avenues for treatment.

Renal Sufficiency Testing: PrEP is only prescribed to those who have healthy kidneys. Your provider will need to test you for renal insufficiency prior to prescribing PrEP.

Treatment Adherence: You will need to consistently take your PrEP pill every day for the best results. If you are having trouble remembering to take your pill regularly, speak with your healthcare provider for assistance.

Paying For PrEP: Most insurance providers cover PrEP. If yours does not, or if you do not have insurance, speak with your healthcare provider for resources that may help cover the cost of your medication. Even after starting PrEP, youll need to come in for regular follow-ups to test for HIV and medication adherence support, as well as to assess other behavioral risk reduction strategies.

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How Well Does Pep Work To Prevent Hiv Transmission

PEP does not prevent 100% of HIV infections but it is very effective at preventing HIV if used every day for 28 days. PEP should ideally be started right away, but it can be started up to a maximum of 72 hours after a potential exposure to HIV. The sooner you start PEP, the more effective it is.

To maximize the effectiveness of PEP:

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Does Howard Brown Offer Pep

Yes! Howard Brown offers PEP to patients on a walk-in basis. If you believe you have been exposed to HIV, you can come to Howard Brown during our regular hours of operation to receive treatment. Patients without insurance may qualify for low-cost services, and staff will be available to help you figure out how to pay for the medication. Howard Brown Health always has a healthcare provider on call to help navigate you outside of regular business hours.

For additional information, call 773.388.8889 or walk in during our hours of operation.

If you are unable to come during regular hours of operation, seek PEP through the nearest emergency room.

• People who think they might have been exposed to HIV during sex
• People who have been sexually assaulted
• Drug users who recently shared needles or other related items
• Health care workers who think theyve been exposed to HIV on the job

If you think you were exposed to HIV, go to the hospital or see your doctor as soon as possible. They can help you figure out whether you need PEP.

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Resources To Learn More

HIV Basics: PrEP Website Provides information and clinical recommendations about PrEP for the general public. Covers several PrEP topics by answering common questions and offers a video discussing the benefits of PrEP.Organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Preexposure Prophylaxis for the Prevention of HIV Infection in the United States 2017 Update: A Clinical Practice Guideline Document Presents information on the use of antiretroviral preexposure prophylaxis to reduce the risk of HIV infection in adults. Discusses the risks and benefits, Food and Drug Administration recommendations for PrEP, follow-up assessments for patients taking PrEP, other prevention methods to be used along with PrEP, and clinical trials that established safety and efficacy of the PrEP regime.Organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Date: 2017

PrEP and Local Health Departments Educational Series Tutorial/Training Educational series aimed at increasing knowledge of local health departments and building awareness of how to use and implement PrEP for HIV prevention. Discusses the role that local health departments can play in delivering and supporting PrEP for HIV prevention.Organization: National Association of County and City Health Officials

Find Out If You Need Pep

Take our online risk assessment to find out whether you’ve been at risk and whether its suitable for you to take PEP.

You can also call THT Direct on 0808 802 1221.

If you’re worried that you’ve been exposed to HIV, it might be well worth finding out more about HIV prevention pill PrEP . It’s available in some form in all UK countries and when taken as prescribed is almost 100% effective at preventing HIV transmission.

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Considerations For Sexual Assault In Children

Lead authors:Aracelis Fernandez, MD, with Lisa-Gaye Robinson, MD, and Ruby Fayorsey, MD, with the Medical Care Criteria Committee June 2020

Care providers with experience in managing childhood sexual assault should assist in evaluating children who have been sexually assaulted to best assess the comprehensive needs of the child. Clinicians should assess children who are sexually assaulted for possible exposure to other STIs, including gonorrhea, syphilis, chlamydia, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and trichomoniasis. Indications for laboratory evaluation and antimicrobial prophylaxis depend on the nature of the assault.

Once the initial, emergency dose of PEP has been administered, care for children exposed to HIV through sexual assault should be managed by a multidisciplinary team that includes the following:

• Clinicians with expertise in providing care for children who have been sexually assaulted
• Child protective services, which are mandated by law to conduct an initial assessment and investigation of reported assault/abuse
• Law enforcement officials to gather and evaluate evidence
• Rape crisis counselors or advocates to provide support to the child and family
• Mental health workers to provide immediate services as needed and who can provide long-term follow-up of the child and family, if appropriate

References

What Are Prep And Pep

PrEP and PEP are medicines to prevent HIV. Each type is used in a different situation:

• PrEP stands for pre-exposure prophylaxis. It is for people who don’t already have HIV but are at very high risk of getting it. PrEP is daily medicine that can reduce this risk. With PrEP, if you do get exposed to HIV, the medicine can stop HIV from taking hold and spreading throughout your body.
• PEP stands for post-exposure prophylaxis. PEP is for people who have possibly been exposed to HIV. It is only for emergency situations. PEP must be started within 72 hours after a possible exposure to HIV.

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How Do I Use Pep

PEP is a course of daily pills you take over 28 days.

Once you finish your course of PEP, it is important to get an HIV test. You should get an HIV test at four to six weeks after you first started PEP and again three months after starting PEP. This is because it can take up to three months for HIV to show up on a test.

PEP is an emergency measure and isnt intended as a strategy to use regularly. If you dont always use condoms, talk to your doctor about using PrEP.

How Do I Access Pep

If you think you have been exposed to HIV, do not wait for an appointment to see a GP. Call the PEP info line at the Victorian HIV Prevention Service for guidance and information about where to find your closest PEP provider.

Your PEP provider will ask you a series of questions to determine your risk and whether PEP is appropriate.

PEP is available from the emergency department of most public hospitals, sexual health clinics and some other general practice clinics which specialise in sexual health.

If the exposure happens after hours, emergency departments are often the best place to go to make sure you start PEP as soon as possible.

PEP is widely available in Victoria and further information can be found at:

Get yourself tested for STIs, and treated if necessary, by your local GP .

PEP is not a morning-after pill that makes it easy and safe to have sex without a condom. You must take the medication every day for 28 days for PEP to work.

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Who Is Pep For

PEP is taken after a known or suspected exposure to HIV to prevent HIV transmission.

Examples of known or suspected exposure to HIV may include:

• Condom-less sex with a person whose HIV status you dont know or who is HIV-positive and not on treatment.
• Where a condom has broken or failed during sex.
• Sharing needles or other injecting equipment.

If your exposure to HIV is through a person with HIV who has an undetectable viral load, PEP is not recommended, as there is no risk of transmission.

What If Its Been More Than 72 Hours Since I Think I Was Exposed To Hiv

If its been longer than 72 hours and you’re worried you may have been exposed to HIV, get to an HIV doctor or HIV testing clinic right away and get tested for HIV.

There is a ‘window period’ between the time you were infected and when an HIV test result shows positive. The window period can last anytime from 10 days to 3 months, and the results of an HIV test depends on the person, and the test being used. During this window period, HIV is easily transmitted to a sexual partner, and you may be at higher risk for STIs. If you’re not sure of your HIV status, you could take a break, or if you do have sex, its good practice to use condoms during this time.

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Is It Ok To Switch Between Daily Prep And On

On-demand PrEP is only for cis-gender MSM. Other individuals are not eligible for on-demand PrEP because studies have not demonstrated that it is effective for other populations. Before switching from daily PrEP to on-demand PrEP, or vice versa, a cis-gender MSM should consult with their healthcare provider.

How Does Pep Work To Help Prevent Hiv

PEP interferes with the pathways that HIV uses to cause a permanent infection in the body. For HIV to cause infection the virus must enter the body, infect certain immune cells, make copies of itself within these immune cells, then spread throughout the body.

When PEP is taken, the HIV drugs get into the bloodstream and the genital and rectal tissues. If there is HIV in the body, the drugs can prevent HIV from replicating within the bodys immune cells, and help to prevent a permanent infection from developing.

PEP drugs need to start working against HIV as soon as possible after the virus enters the body, meaning that PEP should be started as soon as possible after a potential exposure and not more than 72 hours afterwards. Drug levels must also remain high during the month of treatment to help prevent infection. If the pills are not taken consistently, as prescribed, there may not be enough medication in the body to prevent HIV infection.

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Who Can Take Prep

PrEP is for anyone who is HIV-negative and is recommended if you are at a higher risk of HIV.

PrEP may be a good option for you if:

• your partner has HIV and does not have anâ¯undetectable viral load

• you have sex with multiple partners and you don’t always use condoms

• youâre having sex with a new partner and are not sure what their HIV status is

• you have sex for money, or receive gifts for sex

• youâve shared injecting equipment or have been in a treatment programme for injecting drug use.

PrEP can be used by anyone who is sexually active – men and women, both trans and cisgender, whether you are gay, bi or straight.

What If I Test Positive After Pep

If you test positive for HIV, its recommended you start treatment right away. The numerous treatment methods now available has made HIV a very manageable condition by suppressing the virus to an undetectable viral load and enabling thousands of guys in NSW lead longer, healthier lives. You can view resources, workshops and other information for newly diagnosed HIV positive gay men here.

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The Level Of Exposure

To put it in the simplest of terms, the greatest difference between PrEP and PEP is timing. PrEP stands for pre-exposure prophylaxis and PEP stands for post-exposure prophylaxis.

Prophylaxis means treatment or actions taken to prevent a disease. PrEP is a treatment plan to prevent HIV before a person is exposed while PEP is a treatment plan for after a person is exposed.

You may be wondering how HIV is caused in the first place, too. HIV transmission occurs through bodily fluid contact, which can occur during sexual intercourse or through shared needles. HIV can be contracted through contact with blood, breastmilk, or rectal, vaginal, or seminal fluids.

So, if a person does not share needles, but they have a sexual partner who is HIV positive, that person should take PrEP even if they use protection. A person who did have unprotected sex with a person who is HIV positive should take PEP.

In order to qualify for PrEP, a person must be first tested for HIV and have a current undetectable load. PrEP can also only be given to a person who has not knowingly come into contact with possible HIV transmission. PEP is given to a person after possible transmission, while their viral load is still undetectable.