What PrEP Is, Who Should Consider It, And How To Talk To Your Doctor About It
HIV/AIDS prevention has come a long way, yet many in our community still don’t know about one of the most powerful tools available: PrEP. This medication can reduce the risk of contracting HIV by up to 99%, and it’s often covered by insurance at no cost.
Medicine aimed at eliminating HIV/AIDS has advanced so much, but Leandro Rodriguez, the Vice President of Programs at Latino Commission on AIDS, says we still have a long way to go.
“I’ve been in this field for more than 26 years, so I’ve seen great milestones accomplished,” says Rodriguez. “I do believe that with all the biomedical interventions that were developed recently, we do have the tools and the knowledge and the science to eliminate HIV.”
Latinos are disproportionately impacted by this epidemic. Research shows that Latinos represent only 19% of the U.S. population, but account for 31% of HIV diagnoses. When it comes to the medical advancements that have been made – including treatments like PrEP – Latinos still face barriers to accessing care.
“We still need to look at the cultural nuances of these communities. Why is it that these interventions are not available, not accessible and not attainable?” he says. “Health insurance plays a key role. Stigma plays a key role. The way that the health institutions are implemented and navigated also play a key role.”
Most people don’t know that the cost of PrEP is covered by most health insurance plans, Medicaid, and Medicare with no out-of-pocket costs.
Rodriguez urges people to learn more about what this medication does and how it can save lives. It all starts with educating our communities.
So, what is PrEP?
PrEP (Pre-exposure prophylaxis)
According to HIV.gov, run by the U.S. Office of Infectious Disease and HIV/AIDS Policy, PrEP is a medicine that helps prevent patients from contracting HIV. It stops the virus from spreading throughout your body and reduces sexually transmitted HIV by about 99%. It reduces the risk of infection by injection by at least 74%.
You can take the medication via a daily oral pill or through bimonthly or semi-annual injections.
Do I need it?
Experts recommend consulting with your healthcare provider to determine what’s right for you.
According to HIV.gov, PrEP might be right for you if you’ve tested negative for HIV but you’ve practiced the risk behaviors associated with the virus such as:
- “had anal or vaginal sex in the past 6 months, and you:
- have a sexual partner with HIV (especially if the partner has an unknown or detectable viral load)
- have not consistently used a condom, or
- have been diagnosed with an STD in the past 6 months.
- you inject drugs
- have an injection partner with HIV
- share needles, syringes, or other injection equipment
- Or have been prescribed PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) and you report continued risk behavior or have used multiple courses of PEP.”
Again, you may choose to take PrEP even if these behaviors don’t apply to you, but it’s best to consult with a doctor. There are also other options and advancements in HIV/AIDS medicine available for patients of different needs and experiences.
How do I talk about it?
There’s a lot of stigma and misinformation around HIV/AIDS that has persevered for decades despite the progress and education available today. However, having HIV/AIDS or protecting against it is nothing to be ashamed of.
Rodriguez encourages all patients to feel empowered by their ability to make important decisions about their own health and safety. We have the tools to make ourselves safe – let’s embrace them, he says.
“Some people see doctors and nurses as these divine beings that cannot be questioned, that cannot be challenged, that cannot be educated,” said Rodriguez. But it’s vital to share your concerns with your doctor. Rodriguez asks: If you don’t tell them, how will they know?
His organization encourages people to role play and practice these conversations they are expecting to have with their doctors about PrEP – which means having resources handy and confidence intact.
Community based organizations like the Latino Commission on AIDS have been working with health care providers who may be ill-informed on HIV/AIDS treatments so “they can make an assessment, they can make a recommendation, and they can start the topic without stigmatizing or without signaling out individuals, because it’s not about the individuals, it’s really about the risk behaviors that individuals may have.”
If patients experience judgment or discrimination, Rodriguez encourages them to speak up or to change their doctors. A doctor should be working in the best interest for your health, and if that’s not the case, go elsewhere.
“In these times, economic factors are weighing on all of us, and sexual health should not be one of those factors,” he said. “There are resources, don’t feel afraid of seeking out those services, because they’re there for you to use.”
He continued: “It is a game changer, because we still see stigma, not just around HIV, but particularly around STDs. So the fact that we can take control of that is powerful.”
