PrEP

What is HIV?

HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is a virus that damages important cells of the immune system. This affects the body’s ability to fight disease and infection, making it easier to get sick. Currently, there is no cure for HIV, but with proper treatment, it can be managed.  People with HIV can live long and healthy lives. Without proper treatment however, HIV can lead to AIDS.

HIV vs. AIDS

If not treated properly, HIV can lead to Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). AIDS is the most advanced stage of HIV and is defined by a weakened immune system that can no longer fight off serious infections.  AIDS can also make you more susceptible to developing certain cancers such as lymphoma. 

Who is at risk for HIV?

Anyone can contract HIV. However, individuals most at risk include gay or bisexual men, transgender women who have sex with men and injection drug users.  At present, African americans and Hispanic americans are at greater risk of contracting HIV compared to other ethnicities.

What is PrEP?

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a preventative medication regimen for people who do not have HIV but are at high risk of contracting it. When taken daily, PrEP medications can reduce the risk of contracting HIV through sex by 99%. To be effective, the medication has to be taken every day.

How is HIV transmitted?

In the US, HIV is transmitted most often through anal or vaginal sex or by sharing needles used for injecting drugs. Other less common ways that the virus can be transmitted include:

• Mother-to-child transmission during pregnancy, birth, or breastfeeding
• Being pricked with an HIV contaminated needle
• Oral sex
• Receiving blood, organs, or tissue that is contaminated with HIV
• Getting bit by someone infected with HIV
• If a wound comes into contact with infected bodily fluids or blood

HIV is not transmitted through:

• Saliva, sweat, or tears
• Mosquitos or insects
• Air or water
• Touching that does not involve the exchange of bodily fluids

What causes HIV?

HIV infection is caused by the human immunodeficiency virus. This virus can be transmitted from person to person through a number of different ways.

What are the symptoms of HIV?

Symptoms of HIV vary depending on the person and stage of HIV. The first stage is called acute HIV infection and happens within 2-4 weeks of being infected. In this stage, some people experience the following flu-like symptoms:

• Fever
• Sore throat
• Fatigue
• Chills
• Rash
• Night sweats
• Muscle aches
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Mouth ulcers

During the second stage of HIV infection, also known as Chronic HIV Infection, most people do not experience any symptoms. However, the virus is still reproducing in the body and can be transmitted.

How is HIV diagnosed?

HIV can be diagnosed through blood and/or saliva testing. The three types of HIV tests include:

• Nucleic acid tests (NAT) which detect the virus in the blood.
• Antigen/antibody tests detect both HIV and antibodies that fight HIV in the blood.
• Antibody tests that can detect HIV antibodies both in blood and oral secretions.

If the results of your HIV test confirm infection, further testing is required to see what stage of HIV you have. These tests include:

• CD4 T cell count, which measures the amount of a type of white blood cell
• Viral load, which measures the amount of actual virus in your blood
• Drug resistance, which tests if you have a strain that is resistant to medication

It is important to note that HIV tests may not always detect the virus immediately after infection. If your test comes back negative, a follow-up test taken weeks or months later can help your doctor verify whether the results are correct.

AIDS

Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is the third and most serious stage of HIV infection. The immune system is weakened and loses its ability to fight off infection or disease.

HPV

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a viral infection that causes warts. HPV can sometimes lead to cancers such as cervical or anal cancer.

Chlamydia

Chlamydia is a common sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by a bacteria. Both women and men can contract it and not show any symptoms.

Will PrEP work after exposure?

PrEP is intended to reduce your risk of contracting HIV before you are exposed, not after. If you have been exposed to HIV in the last 72 hours, you can take PEP (post exposure prophylaxis) to help reduce your risk. PEP medications need to be taken every day for 28 days after exposure, and work better the sooner they are taken after exposure. PEP should only be taken in emergency situations.

When does PrEP start working?

PrEP reaches maximum effect for preventing HIV contracted through receptive anal sex (receiving) after 7 days.  It takes about 21 days to become maximally effective for all other activities including insertive anal sex, vaginal sex, and sharing needles.

How to treat HIV?

There is currently no cure for HIV but there are medications that can help manage and block the virus from replicating further. This treatment is known as antiretroviral therapy (ART) and typically consists of a combination of three or more medications from different classes of drugs.

The classes of HIV drugs include:

• Non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs)
• Nucleoside or nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs)
• Protease inhibitors (PIs)
• Integrase inhibitors
• Entry or fusion inhibitors