Tag: PrEP news

Why having a healthier relationship has been made easier for all couples

Posted on by Pauline Syombua

Having a healthy relationship does not just mean having a daily conversation, solving issues and meeting your partner’s needs. It comes with all that but your partner’s health is what matters more.

Therefore it is important to question yourself your lifestyle and ways of living. A part from eating right and making sure you are fit have you thought about your HIV status?

I will not assume that most people stick to one partner and for this reason this is where PrEP comes in. Well, PrEP which means Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis, is the use of anti-HIV medications to keep HIV negative people from becoming infected.

Also read: Stay safe: Why PrEP is considered part of safe sex

The medication which has been approved by doctors around the world helps prevent HIV negative people most at risk of HIV infection to reduce their chances of becoming infected.

The reason why it plays a major role in a healthy relationship is because it significantly reduces a person’s risk of getting an HIV infection if taken daily. When PrEP is taken daily – it lowers the risk of getting HIV from sex by more than 90% and from injection drug use by more than 70%. – remove this

However, it is important to note that one should combine additional strategies like using using Condoms with PrEP to reduce the risk of getting infected even further.

If you care for those you love then PrEP is the only way to go for a healthier and longer relationship!

To prove you love your partner this is what one should do to protect them!

Posted on by Pauline Syombua

 

In the past people have had to do small-small things like gifting their partners to prove how much they love them.

However this is not the only way you can prove your love to the person you are romantically involved with. There are more ways like protecting them especially when it comes to intimacy.

If you indeed you love your girlfriend, boyfriend, husband or wife the first thing one should consider is to protect them from sexually transmitted like STI and HIV/Aids.

PrEP Campaign

For this reason it’s advisable to use PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis) which is an anti-HIV medication that keeps HIV negative people from becoming infected.

The medication interferes with HIV’s ability to copy itself in the body after one has been exposed. PrEP prevents it from establishing an infection and making one sick.

PrEP Campaign

It is highly effective for preventing HIV if used as prescribed, but it is much less effective when not taken consistently. Daily PrEP reduces the risk of getting HIV from sex by more than 90%.

Also the risk of getting HIV from sex can be lowered if you combine PrEP with condoms and other prevention methods.

Stay safe: Why PrEP is considered part of safe sex

Posted on by Pauline Syombua

PrEP is the use of antiretroviral drugs, taken by HIV negative people to prevent HIV infection. PrEP is an acronym that stands for pre-exposure prophylaxis and is a new additional HIV prevention method that will play a vital role in efforts to reduce new infections significantly.

PrEP Campaign

PrEP allows guys to be in control of their HIV status. This simply means that when a HIV negative person comes into contact with (through sex or other body fluids) a person living with the virus then they are assured safety as the pill plays the role of killing the virus and preventing it from spreading.

Also, PrEP provides more than 90% protection against HIV. When you take PrEP once a day or as advises by your doctor then you are always protected – that is if one follows the instructions correctly.

PrEP Campaign

Unlike condoms which may break, PrEP plays the role of a stress reliever and anxiety that can be associated with sex. When you’re with that special guy, PrEP allows you to connect and be in the moment. Seems to be encouraging unprotected sex, let’s consider doing away with this paragraph or rephrasing it

However, it is important to note that PrEP does not protect one from STI’s and pregnancies. Therefore it is advisable to use the two when you are with your partner.

Why love might have found a new protector

Posted on by Pauline Syombua

We all live to protect those we love and for this reason PrEP also known as Pre-exposure prophylaxis – which is a new HIV prevention approach is an additional tool for people to consider in the HIV prevention toolbox since it reduces the risk of becoming infected when a person is exposed to the virus.

PrEP Campaign

PrEP has shown to reduce the risk of HIV infection through sex and after one comes into contact with sharp objects especially those people who inject drugs.

Before starting the pill, It is very important to make sure you have not been recently infected with HIV in order to avoid increasing your risk of developing drug resistance and limiting your future options for HIV treatment.

PrEP Campaign

However, it is advisable to note that PrEP does not protect against other sexually transmitted infections (STI) or pregnancy and neither is it a cure for HIV.

 

 

 

The most important factor in a relationship is not communication but respect and this little secret! (Details)

Posted on by Pauline Syombua

Lately relationships have become complicated making it hard for people to stick to one partner. However, there are those who find true love and live happily ever after – but this is only after you know your partners status.

With HIV/AIDS everywhere, most people freak out after unprotected sex as they fear to be infected. For this reason, the only way you can love your partner is by protecting them even when it comes to intimacy.

Apart from condoms, there is a new way to protect yourself and the person you love from getting infected.

PrEP Campaign

PrEP which means Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis, is an HIV prevention strategy where HIV-negative individuals take anti-HIV medications before coming into contact with HIV to reduce their risk of becoming infected.

This medications work to prevent HIV from establishing infection inside the body. So far it has shown to be safe and effective. A single pill taken once daily, it is highly effective against HIV when taken every day.

PrEP Campaign

PrEP has also made it easier for partners living with different HIV status enabling them to have children of their own without passing the virus from one partner to the other and also having healthy children. It is however advisable to seek more advice from your doctor about such a situation.

Love is protecting those you care about and PrEP is the solution!

Scared that you spent a night with a stranger whose status you know nothing about? Here is why you should not Worry!

Posted on by Pauline Syombua

People from this generation know how to have fun and I am not talking about the young but also the old. And most of the times you find both ladies and men panicking or rather worried after spending a night with someone new whose status they know nothing about.

However thanks to PrEP which means Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis, one can now be at peace as it’s a pill taken daily to protect people who are HIV negative and are at risk of getting infected by HIV.

The pill which is available at public health facilities in the country has been proven to play an important role of protecting those who are at risk of getting HIV. Wondering how the pill works? Well, it works by establishing a presence of the drug in the cells that HIV targets for infection; the virus can’t produce a genetic code, so it can’t replicate and cause an infection.

As we already understand most people prefer unprotected sex exposing themselves to getting infected. Others choose to use condoms which are not 99% safe. But with the use of PrEP, one can confidently be sure that they are safe since it lowers the risk of getting HIV by over 90% when taken correctly and consistently as advised by your public health officer.


However, PrEP is recommended for people who are at an on-going risk of HIV infection, so when taken consistently and is combined with condoms and other prevention methods it works better.

Therefore if one already has the virus it is important to continue with the ARV treatment which keeps you healthy and reduces your chances of passing HIV on to others.

 

Why PrEP is important for sexually active people

Posted on by Pauline Syombua

Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis is a pill that can help prevent you from getting HIV every time you have unprotected sex or when exposed to the virus.

In several studies of PrEP, it has shown that the pill has lowered the chances of getting infected by 92% mostly for those who are consistent in taking the pill.

It is important to take the pill each day as it has a high level protection against HIV and is even more effective when combined with Condoms.

It is however important to note that the pill should be taken everyday and one should visit a health center after every 3 months for check ups and follow ups just to be on the safe side.

PrEP in other words is a pill that will help you be in control of your own health especially when you are sexually active.

 

 

This is how effective PrEP is!

Posted on by Pauline Syombua

PrEP is the most safest way of HIV prevention for now. However, one has to make sure they take this pill daily to maximize the effectiveness at preventing HIV.

About condoms:

Taking PrEP every day will keep you from getting HIV infection. However PrEP will not protect you from other STI’s such as gonorrhea, genital warts, syphilis etc. or unwanted pregnancy. You must use condoms correctly and consistently in order to be fully protected from all STI’s and unwanted pregnancy

Using PrEP

For PrEP to be effective, one needs to take it for at least 7 days before any exposure to HIV. Thereafter, the PrEP pill should be taken once a day for as long as a person remains at risk of HIV infection (or as advised by the Health care provider). You should not take 2 pills at the same time or on the same dayto make up for a missed dose. PrEP best works when used with another prevention method such as condoms

When we say PrEP is 99% effective, that means that when PrEP is taken every day as prescribed, it prevents 99% of the cases of HIV that would have occurred otherwise.

How effective is PrEP? (Details)

Posted on by Pauline Syombua

PrEP is the most safest way of HIV prevention for now. However, one has to make sure they take this pill daily to maximize the effectiveness at preventing HIV.

Unlike condoms which offer 70% safety, PrEP is safe by 99% meaning it is a better method of preventing HIV when used all the time. You can also use both methods if need be, just to increase the level of effectiveness.

In 2009, a large study showed that not only was it effective at treating HIV, but also at preventing HIV when taken every day.  Since then, several studies have confirmed that it is incredibly effective at prakes into account things like missed doses, interactions with other medications a person might be taking, or other illnesses that might be present.

When we say PrEP is 99% effective, that means that when PrEP is taken every day as prescribed, it prevents 99% of the cases of HIV that would have occurred otherwise.

Looking for PrEP? Here is where you can easily get them

Posted on by Pauline Syombua

Having understood that PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis) is a pill taken daily by people who are HIV negative to protect them from HIV infection, many are not aware where they can get the pills.

However, the good news is that you can simply get them at all chemists and clinics located in the CBD or your local hood pharmacies .

This however does not mean that they should be abused in any way simply because they are available.

Before deciding on whether you need this pill, one needs to first confirm that they are HIV negative and then proceed with buying of the pill which will act as ‘the morning after pill’ but in this case it will play the role of protecting you from getting HIV.

If you are HIV positive then PrEP is not for you. What you need to do is stick to your medicine (ARV’s) which will be helpful in keeping you healthy and strong.

Remember, it takes about 1 week (after starting your 1 pill per day) for the PrEP to reach maximum levels your system and give you full protection.

Also, if you are on PrEP and taking it correctly, you need not worry about a sexual partner’s HIV status because you are protecting your own negative status by taking PrEP.

Why PrEP should not be substituted for Condoms

Posted on by Pauline Syombua

‘PrEP’ which stands for Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis – is a pill taken daily by people who are HIV negative to protect them from HIV infection.

This however does not mean that one should stop using protection while having sex with their partners. Just to be on the safe side one needs to understand that PrEP only plays the part of protecting people from contracting HIV and from judging from how the number of people living with HIV has reduced it shows how reliable PrEP is.

But as much as it is recommended by various doctors, it is important to note that the only way to stay safe and sure is by always using protection – especially if one is not planning to get pregnant or if one has various partners which will help reduce catching sexually transmitted infections.

Even if you’re in a monogamous relationship, it can take a while for some STIs to show up on a test. That’s why it’s best to stay protected from STIs even if you add a ‘serious’ birth control method into the mix. If you’re using a barrier method that involves spermicide (like a diaphragm, cervical cap, or sponge), it’s important to double up with a condom since spermicide can irritate the lining of the vagina and other sensitive skin, making it easier to contract an STI.

Therefore doubling up on methods is the best policy. Also, not to mention good sex – goes hand in hand with good communication and trust. That’s why we are so on board with advising people on using protection whenever having sex.

For those who think sex is boring with condoms, let us remind you that you can make it sexier by staying safe.

20 things you need to know about PrEP – anti-HIV drug taken to prevent contracting HIV/AIDs

Posted on by Pauline Syombua

Most people are unable to consistently use condoms during sex, and this habit have driven researchers to develop a drug to protect HIV- negative persons from contracting HIV/AIDs even if they have unprotected sex.
‘PrEP’ stands for Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis; It is a pill taken daily by people who are HIV negative to protect them from HIV infection.
In simpler terms, PrEP is an anti-HIV medication that keeps HIV-negative people from becoming infected even when they have unprotected sex with people who are HIV + positive.
Below are IMPORANT things you need to know about PrEP:
How well does it work?
For HIV-negative people who take it every day, PrEP can lower the risk of getting HIV by up to 90%.. PrEP only for people who are HIV-negative
PrEP is recommended for people who are at an on-going risk of HIV infection.
How often do I need to take PrEP?
You need to take it once a day at more or less the same time. That doesn’t mean that taking the pill has to be on the minute – a few hours either way is okay.
How long does it take for PrEP to become protective?
It takes up to 20 days to be fully protected. PrEP MUST be taken daily!
Can you get HIV from taking PrEP?
No, as long as you follow the doctor’s instructions to take PrEP daily it works to prevent HIV infection.
It is however recommended that condoms be used consistently to protect one from unplanned pregnancies or other STI’s.
What happens if you miss a dosage?
The rate of protection is based on strictly taking the pill daily. If you don’t take the pill as advised by the doctor, you don’t get full protection.

If I take PrEP, does this mean I have to take it for the rest of my life?
No. It is important that you take PrEP daily while at risk of acquiring HIV, but when you feel that you are no longer at risk you can talk to your healthcare provider about stopping PrEP.

What if I want to stop taking PrEP?
If you decide PrEP is no longer a useful HIV prevention strategy for you, it is recommended that you discuss with your healthcare provider before stopping PrEP. You may be advised to continue taking PrEP for four weeks after your last potential exposure to HIV. This period also provides some planning time to think about other HIV prevention strategies.
Can you take PrEP for one night only?
No. You need to take the pill once a day for about a month before you are fully protected.

Does PrEP also protect you against other sexually transmitted infections?
No. It only protects against HIV infection. PrEPdoes not protect against unwanted pregnancy or other STIs.
Can I share PrEP with my HIV+ partner, or take my partner’s HIV medications to help prevent HIV?
Even if your HIV-positive partner is taking ART, it is important not to share your PrEP pills with your HIV-positive partner or to take your mix up pills, and this could lead to unexpected partner might run out of medications when you need them.

Does PrEP have side effects?

Side effects include headache, nausea, vomiting, rash, and loss of appetite. For most people, these will go away after a few weeks

What happens if you take PrEP and you are HIV-positive?
PrEP could potentially not work for you as HIV treatment. Having both the virus and medication in your body allows the virus to become resistant to the medication.PrEP works best as part of other HIV prevention approaches such as condom use, HIV testing, healthy lifestyle etc.

If I take PrEP, can I stop using condoms when I have sex?
No. PrEP is an extra HIV prevention option and should be used in combination with condoms. Using condoms is still the best way to prevent HIV infection. Condoms protect against STIs and unwanted pregnancy when used correctly and consistently.
Is PrEP for me?
PrEP is anyone who is IV negative but constantly at risk of getting HIV.
Where can I get PrEP?
For more information on PrEP, visit your nearest health center.