Stay HIV negative with PrEP

What is PrEP and how does it help?

For the many people at risk for HIV, preventing infection matters. Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis, also known as PrEP, reduces your risk of contracting HIV. Those who are possibly at risk and may wish to consider this treatment may include:

• Those with sexual partners of unknown HIV status
• Anyone involved with someone who’s HIV-positive
• Sexually active people who don’t consistently use condoms
• Needle-sharers of any type

PrEP can reduce the risk of getting HIV from sex by more than 90 percent. For best results, take PrEP every day, as directed.

How to get PrEP

Because PrEP is a prescription drug, you will need to have it prescribed by a healthcare provider.

We recommend going to a provider with whom you feel comfortable discussing intimate matters. When it comes to your sexual health, open communication is vital.

Your healthcare provider will ask you a series of questions about your habits to determine if PrEP is right for you. If PrEP is not right for you, your provider may discuss alternative prevention methods with you.

Before prescribing PrEP, your provider must administer an HIV test to verify that you are HIV-negative. Your provider may also test your liver function, for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and/or Hepatitis B.

Taking PrEP

Take PrEP as directed by your provider. Stopping or skipping doses could reduce PrEP’s effectiveness or leave you entirely unprotected. If you are thinking about stopping PrEP, discuss it with your provider first. To prevent negative drug interactions, tell your provider about any other medications you are taking.

You might experience side effects, with some of the most serious being lactic acidosis, renal impairment or liver toxicity. Contact your health care provider immediately if you have any questions or concerns about your course of treatment.

Getting PrEP

If you are concerned about minimizing your exposure to HIV, Innovative Express Care can help. We offer access to PrEP as one of our many comprehensive STD services for patients in the Chicago area. We prescribe the once-a-day Truvada for three months, and we have you come back for evaluation, STD check, and to make sure you are doing well on the medication. You can make your appointment online, seven days a week. We even have same-day availability. Why wait? A 90 percent reduction in transmission of HIV is a scientific breakthrough. Let Innovative Express Care help you today.