PrEP for HIV Prevention
WHAT IS YOUR STATUS?
Getting tested is the only way to know if you have or don’t have HIV. Everyone should get tested. According to the CDC, an estimated 1.2 million people in the United States have HIV, including 158,500 people who are unaware of their status. Nearly 40% of new HIV infections are transmitted by people who don’t know they have the virus. Knowing your status means taking control of your health.
Our office offers low-cost, confidential HIV rapid testing to anyone who needs it. The test takes just a few minutes and requires either a small drop of blood or a mouth swab.
Either way, your results only take about 10 minutes.
WHAT HAPPENS IF I AM POSITIVE?
We will run confirmatory labs and bring you in for a follow-up to discuss the results, provide you with education, and refer you to The Ryan White Program at CAMC for treatment. They will provide you with help managing living with HIV. Not only are there medications you can take, there are support services that can help you stay healthy and live a long life.
Here are resources for those living with HIV.
WHAT HAPPENS IF I AM NEGATIVE?
Continue to use safe-sex practices to protect yourself from HIV and other STI’s. If you are negative and think you may be at risk for HIV, talk to our providers about starting PrEP to help keep you HIV negative.
PrEP FOR HIV PREVENTION
PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) is a medicine that can significantly reduce your chances of contracting HIV from sex or injection drug use. When taken as prescribed, PrEP is highly effective for preventing HIV. PrEP is safe, but some people experience side effects like diarrhea, nausea, headache, fatigue, and stomach pain. These side effects usually go away over time.
Most insurance plans and state Medicaid programs cover PrEP. Under the Affordable Care Act, PrEP must be free under almost all health insurance plans.That means you can’t be charged for your PrEP medication or the clinic visits and lab tests you need to maintain your prescription. If you do not have insurance or Medicaid, there are programs that can help you pay for PrEP.