Drop Your Block Here
Drop Your Block Here
FAQs
IMG Health Clinic
We Have Answers
Schedule Your Appointment
Drop Your Block Here
FAQs
Drop Your Block Here
Most Asked
Why should I take PrEP? Is PrEP safe?
How frequently do I need to get tested?
Will my information be confidential?
I do not have insurance, do I have to pay for testing?
Where are your clinics located? Are there any close to my house?
How can I become an IMG patient?
How do I get my prescription?
Can I walk into an IMG clinic or mobile clinic without an appointment?
Does IMG manage HIV?
Can pregnant women receive testing and care?
HIV
Drop Your Block Here
Why should you use condoms to prevent transmission when HIV is treatable?
HOW DO CONDOMS PROTECT AGAINST HIV?
HIV is transmitted when body fluids come into contact with each other. Therefore, the risk of transmission is high during intercourse of all kinds. There are various types of condoms used to prevent bodily fluids from coming together: oral, vaginal and penile condoms. Condoms, both external and internal, help decrease the chance of HIV transmission by creating a physical barrier between the skins of two people so that the likelihood of bodily fluid exchange is decreased down to a significant level. Condoms are consistent with significantly reducing the chance of contracting HIV as long as they are used properly and regularly.
Condoms are made of a lot of different materials. Some of these materials include latex, nitrile, and polyurethane. These materials do not allow HIV to pass through them and prevent transmission of the virus. Latex is the main material that prevents the small virus that causes HIV to pass through. It is important to note that some condoms are made of lamb intestines. These natural-made condoms are not ideal when it comes to HIV prevention. Lamb skin condoms are primarily used for pregnancy prevention and are not recommended by the CDC to prevent STDs/STIs at this time.
Is the HIV test accurate?
WHAT’S THE WINDOW PERIOD IN HIV TESTING?
A window period is the time a test needs before it can detect HIV in your samples. This is usually the time that the virus takes to build up high enough concentrations to be detected by various HIV tests. Different HIV tests use different detection methods. Therefore, different HIV tests have unique window periods.
WHAT KIND OF HIV TESTS ARE AVAILABLE?
Generally, there are two broad categories of HIV tests available. One category includes the lab tests. Lab tests use various methods to detect HIV in your blood, urine, or other body fluids. The other category is the home-testing HIV kits, or the rapid tests category. These home testing kits are an amazing choice since they provide the comfort of a reliable diagnosis in just 20 minutes without going to a lab or a clinic.
Can two HIV-positive parents have an HIV-negative child?
COUNSELING FOR HIV POSITIVE COUPLES
HIV-positive couples should receive proper medical counseling even before they decide to get pregnant. Many decisions need to be made regarding the pregnancy, and proper counseling can help make these decisions easier.
Counseling helps HIV-positive couples understand the risk to their baby during pregnancy and birth. Based on this understanding, their doctor might recommend a tailored program to help minimize the risk of infection to their baby. There are multiple treatments available that decrease the viral load in the mother and, thus, reduce the risk of infecting the baby. The same treatment can also help treat the child in case it is born with HIV.
Couples also need to evaluate their health status and how it would affect their lives together as a family once they get pregnant. Difficult questions such as whether or not HIV-positive couples might be able to raise their newborns need to be addressed beforehand effectively. Psychiatric counseling on coping with the stigma of HIV is an important aspect of managing HIV-positive couples.
Can you get HIV through oral sex?
HIV is transmitted through infected body fluids, including seminal and vaginal fluids. These fluids can transmit the virus when they come into contact with your blood or genital fluids. The virus enters your body by passing through membranes and multiplies to cause an infection.
THE RISK OF HIV TRANSMISSION THROUGH ORAL SEX
Generally, giving oral sex carries a higher risk of HIV infection than receiving it from your partner. Moreover, mouth to penis oral sex carries a higher risk of HIV transmission than other types of oral sex. All types of oral sex, including mouth-to-vagina (cunnilingus), mouth-to-anus (rimming/anilingus), and mouth-to-penis (fellatio) carry some risk of HIV transmission.
Acquiring HIV through oral sex requires special factors at play. These factors increase the likelihood of your blood coming into contact with the infected person’s bodily fluids. Once this contact is established, there is a significant risk of HIV transmission. These factors include:
- Having open sores in your mouth or genitals
- Active bleeding from the gums
- Your mouth coming into contact with menstrual blood
- Having other STDs
What are the risks of getting HIV if you put on a condom after you've already started having sex?
THE RISK OF DELAYED CONDOM USE
Condoms provide adequate protection against HIV when used correctly. However, many couples worldwide engage in risky sexual intercourse when they don't use condoms correctly. Improper usage of a condom can lead to a breach in the protective layer and cause the transmission of HIV.
In addition, many couples worldwide engage in the practice of delaying condom use during sexual intercourse. Delaying the use of condoms during sex increases the contact time between the genitals. This increased contact time between the genitals is a known risk factor for HIV transmission.
For HIV-negative women, the risk of HIV transmission with delayed condom use is lower than that associated with unprotected sex. However, the risk is still higher than properly using the condom before the start of sex, studies suggest. The risk of HIV transmission with delayed condom use is even higher for seronegative men who have sex with other men. One study attributes this risk to be as high as that associated with unprotected sex in homosexual men.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing?
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing?
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing?
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing?
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing?
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when.
Drop Your Block Here
What is Hepatitis C?
Hepatitis is extremely common in many parts of the world. Statistics indicate that almost 2.3 billion people worldwide are affected by one of the five hepatitis-causing viruses. In the United States alone, an estimated 3 to 5 million people are suspected of living with viral hepatitis. According to this report by the Department of Health and Human Services, half of the people with hepatitis aren't aware of their ailment. In the diagnosed population, Hep B and C account for most of the cases.
Hepatitis C is the most common type of viral hepatitis in the United States. 2.4 million people in the United States have either acute or chronic hepatitis C. A blood-borne virus causes the disease, and it is transmitted via unprotected sexual contact (vaginal and anal intercourse), unhygienic injection, and blood transfusion practices. Sharing needles in drug addicts is a common cause of this disease. Hepatitis C virus infects the liver and causes inflammation and scarring, also known as liver cirrhosis. Cirrhosis of the liver eventually leads to full-blown liver failure. The severity of the illness caused by Hepatitis C ranges from mild to a full-blown severe liver failure scenario. Hep C can also lead to liver cancer, also known as hepatocellular carcinoma.
Is there a cure for Hepatitis C?
There is no vaccine for Hepatitis C as of yet. However, medical management helps eliminate the disease quite well. Previously, patients living with Hepatitis C needed a combination of oral medicine and weekly injections to combat the disease. Newer medical protocols have made it possible to manage the condition with just oral therapy for 2 to 3 months. The disease, although devastating, can now be managed much more efficiently and safely than ever before.
Can I be infected with Hepatitis C more than once?
Hepatitis C is a liver infection that causes inflammation, scarring, and ultimately liver failure if not treated properly. It's also a fairly common disease in both the developed and the undeveloped parts of the world. This widespread prevalence is because Hepatitis C can be transmitted to other people through multiple means.
HOW IS HEPATITIS C TRANSMITTED?
Knowing how the hepatitis C virus is transmitted can help you understand the disease better and take precautions and prevent acquiring the condition in the first place.
A blood-borne virus causes hepatitis C. Therefore, direct contact with an infected person's blood can transmit the disease quickly. Here are some scenarios that are considered high-risk activities for the transmission of Hepatitis C:
- Sharing needles for drug injections – This is one of the highest-risk activities because it involves direct blood-to-blood contact through skin penetration.
- Tattoos and Piercings – Getting tattoos and piercings also involves coming into contact with blood. The equipment used for tattooing and piercings might be infected with Hepatitis C and cause the spread of the virus to other people.
- Blood transfusion – Albeit low due to improved screening procedures, blood transfusions also carry the virus's risk.
- Health care exposure – Hepatitis C can also be acquired in a hospital setting when health care professionals do not take appropriate steps to minimize the transmission of the virus. For example, improper sterilization of medical equipment, reusing the same equipment, not having a separate set of equipment for Hepatitis C positive patients, and improper disposal of hospital waste.
- Vertical transmission – The virus can also be transmitted from the mother to the baby before and during birth.
Can I take Hep C medications along with my HIV medications?
A HIV/HCV coinfection is not rare. People with either of the diseases are very likely to develop the other as well. In the United States, 5% of chronic Hepatitis C patients have coinfection with HIV. Similarly, about 30% of individuals with HIV are living with a concurrent HCV infection. The reason behind this increased prevalence of coinfection lies in the biochemistry of their causative agents and the shared risk factors for both viruses.
A COMBINED TREATMENT MODALITY FOR HIV/HCV COINFECTION
HIV/HCV coinfection, however debilitating, is not untreatable. Modern medical protocols allow you to take Hep C medication with your HIV medication without serious side effects. These treatment modalities use the newer Direct Acting Antivirals (DAAs) for HCV infection and antiretroviral therapy (ART) for HIV infection.
THE TREATMENT PROTOCOL FOR THIS TREATMENT IS AS FOLLOWS
- ART is helpful in all patients with coinfection because it improves the patient's immune system. This leads to beneficial effects on patient's health and might even slow down the progression of liver damage due to Hepatitis C. This is why ART is started in all patients of HIV/HCV coinfection
- ART started for these patients has the same drugs as for patients with HIV infection alone.
- After careful assessment of the liver damage, DAA can then be given to the patient while continuing ART. A thorough examination of all possible drug-to-drug interactions is carried out beforehand.
What are the possible side effects of a combined treatment for HIV/HCV coinfection?
However, research suggests that medical treatment for HIV/HCV coinfection carries more benefits than risks. Antiretroviral therapy used in the treatment of such patients improves their immune system. This can slow down liver disease progression since the immune system starts resisting the Hepatitis C virus. Thus the combined treatment modality carries far more benefits than the individual treatment for both these diseases.
Who is at risk for developing HCV/HIV coinfection?
Risks for coinfection of HCV and HIV include:
- Sharing needles for injecting drugs.
- Unsafe blood transfusions
- Having multiple sex partners
- Having unprotected intercourse
- Men having sex with men (MSM)
Other than these risk factors, age also plays a vital role. Increased age increased the risk of acquiring both HIV and HCV infections due to decreased immunity. A high rate of coinfection is also observed in people diagnosed with HIV at a younger age. This is because the disease renders them susceptible to the development of other infections, such as Hepatitis C.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing?
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing?
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing?
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing?
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing?
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when.
Drop Your Block Here
How do you get tested for an STD?
HOW IS STD TESTING CARRIED OUT?
There are different tests to identify different STDs. The choice to apply a diagnostic test for an STD depends on the type of disease, your current symptoms, and your past medical history.
Usually, the process of diagnosing an STD, or any disease for that matter, has two phases. The first phase is the clinical history and examination. This is where your doctor will look for any signs and symptoms that might give him an idea about your disease. The doctor may ask you a series of questions about your sexual history, the method of protection used (if any), and the number of your active and past sexual partners. There might also be other questions depending on the type of disease.
The second phase is where your doctor takes some samples and sends them out for investigations. Depending on the type of infection, your doctor might take:
- Blood samples
- Urine samples
- Stool samples
- Swab samples from your mouth, genitalia, and blisters or open sores
The process of taking samples is painless. Usually, test results can be received in 5-7 days. Most hospitals and clinics have onboard testing facilities. Others send these samples out to labs, causing a slight delay with your test results. Some STDs can be tested rapidly in the clinic using rapid diagnostic methods, such as for HIV.
Should a woman douche after a condom breaks to prevent a STD?
Most people believe that douching after a condom breaks can help women prevent pregnancies. While this reasoning may seem plausible, there is no scientific evidence for it. Douching has not been proven to reduce the risk of pregnancy or HIV after a sexual encounter. Some believe that douching carries the risk of pushing the semen further up the reproductive tract. Moreover, douching can also increase the risk of bacterial infections of the vagina and its associated anatomy.
Some evidence suggests that douching can send viruses like HIV further up and make it easier for them to enter the body. Douching, using enemas, or scrubbing with soap does not provide any significant protection from HIV or pregnancy in case of condom breakage. These products can cause significant irritation and make you more prone to infections.
WHAT TO DO WHEN A CONDOM BREAKS?
Condom breaks are not uncommon. This fact is especially true because most people don't know how to use condoms correctly. However, there is plenty that you can do to prevent HIV transmission and pregnancy in such a situation. Consider these three questions before taking any further steps:
- Is the condom still on, or has it disappeared inside the reproductive canal?
- Did the intercourse start, or was it about to reach climax?
- Did the break happen before or after ejaculation?
Assessing and understanding the situation by answering these questions can help you a lot. Once you've established the situation's intensity, you can take further steps to avoid both STD transmission and pregnancy.
What is an STD or an STI?
TYPES
There are almost 20 identified STDs that are known to infect humans caused by viruses, bacteria, and protozoa. All of these diseases are transmitted from sexual intercourse, among other routes. Although all of these STDs are common, some are more prevalent than others. HPV, Herpes, Syphilis, Chlamydia, HIV, and Gonorrhea are the most common types of STDs in the U.S. and also worldwide.
All STDs share a standard route of transmission, but they have different characteristics regarding patient presentation—genital herpes, Syphilis, and HPV present as genital warts. Hepatitis B and C present as an inflammation of the liver. HIV lowers the host's immune response and manifests as the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS).
Note that it is also possible for STDs to remain undetectable and not cause any symptoms. Such cases are called dormant cases or carriers of that particular disease.
However, despite there being distinct symptoms, most of these diseases do have some symptoms in common. These common groups of symptoms are different in both men and women and can help identify the sexually transmitted nature of the disease.
How is an STD treated?
MEDICATIONS TO TREAT STDs
STDs can be treated with antibiotics or antiviral drugs depending on the causative pathogen. There are also vaccines available that provide immunity to some STDs. In addition, several prophylaxis regimens exist that can help protect you from acquiring the disease in the first place.
If you are experiencing any of the symptoms of an STD, or if you have reason to believe that you were exposed to one, contact your doctor immediately. Early detection and prompt treatment can increase your chances of successful treatment. Additionally, always use safe sex practices to minimize your risk of acquiring an STD by minimizing exposure.
ANTIBIOTICS
Antibiotics are extremely effective against STDs caused by bacteria and even parasites. Gonorrhea, syphilis, chlamydia, and trichomoniasis are all examples of STDs that are usually cured by antibiotics. Generally, antibiotics often cure the infection they are effective against in a dosage varies.
Your doctor may prescribe you antibiotics according to international guidelines. Following the given prescription according to the schedule is extremely important for the elimination of the disease. If you have trouble following the schedule of a treatment regime, your doctor may advise a simpler alternative schedule for you to follow.
It is important to abstain from sexual intercourse at least seven days after you’ve completed your antibiotic course. This interval ensures complete eradication of the infection before it can be passed to another person through sex. Retesting is also an important factor to consider after the completion of your treatment. Retesting informs your doctor of your health status as well as the efficacy of the treatment employed.
ANTIVIRALS
STDs caused by viruses are harder to treat. They are also hard to completely cure as most viruses continue to live inside the host forever once an infection has taken place. However, there are several treatment options available to minimize the symptoms of the infection. Minimizing the symptoms ensures a relatively healthy state for the patient who has viral STDs.
HIV, HPV, Herpes, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C are some of the examples of STDs caused by viruses. All of these are incurable but there are effective treatment regimes available against them. Antiviral therapy is available against Hepatitis B and Herpes. This treatment is very effective in lowering the viral load in a patient and allowing daily activities to continue. Antiretroviral therapy works well against HIV. Additionally, your doctor may prescribe creams, or even minor surgeries, to counter genital warts and sores, cold sores, and other such complications caused by these diseases.
VACCINES & PROPHYLAXIS MEDICATION
Vaccination against a disease prevents the disease process from ever initiating in a person. HPV, Hepatitis A, and Hepatitis B have an effective vaccine that works well to protect from these conditions. There is no vaccine for other STDs, such as those caused by bacteria and parasites, at the moment.
Prophylaxis medication helps prevent the onset of infection after a possible exposure. PrEP, or Pre Exposure Prophylaxis, for HIV is a medication regime that prevents infection when taken daily before a possible exposure to HIV. Similarly, nPEP – or Post Exposure Prophylaxis – is another medication regime that prevents HIV infection after a possible exposure to the virus if initiated within 3 days of HIV exposure.
What antibiotics treat sexually transmitted diseases?
Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) or Sexually Transmitted Infections (STDs), caused by bacteria, such as syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia, are generally easier to treat and are often curable when treated with the right antibiotics. Those caused by viruses, though manageable, are often not curable. These include Herpes and HIV/AIDS and are treated using antiviral drugs instead of antibiotics.
WHEN AND HOW ARE ANTIBIOTICS ADMINISTERED?
Antibiotic therapy is a mainstay in treating sexually transmitted diseases. Depending on the type of infection your healthcare provider may decide what antibiotics are required. These may then be administered through various means of treatment.
- A single injection,
- A course of pills taken over a few days
- And as a cream/ointment locally applied to the infected area.
DO I STILL NEED TO KEEP TAKING ANTIBIOTICS IF MY SYMPTOMS HAVE RESOLVED?
Antibiotic resistance is a phenomenon where bacteria develop resistance to a certain class of antibiotics. One reason for this resistance development is the non-completion of an antibiotic course. Generally, when a doctor prescribes an antibiotic, they recommend the dose required to completely kill the bacteria. However, most people simply stop taking their medications once their symptoms subside. This gives the remaining bacteria a chance to “learn from their mistakes”, literally, and develop resistance for the next time the same antibiotic is used. Abstain from sex until you test negative to avoid spreading reinfection.
Resistance to antibiotics is real and a prevalent threat in the entire world. It is necessary to complete your antibiotic course for the duration that it is prescribed. Moreover, a resistant infection can be far harder to treat. Even if your symptoms have resolved it is essential that you complete the course of antibiotics as prescribed
WHAT ANTIBIOTICS ARE COMMONLY USED TO TREAT STDs?
The antibiotics prescribed depends on what infection you have. The various antibiotics prescribed for different bacterial STDs are:
- Azithromycin, Doxycycline, and Erythromycin for Chlamydia.
- Ceftriaxone, Cefixime, Ciprofloxacin, and Ofloxacin for Gonorrhea. (In the event of ceftriaxone allergy, Gemifloxacin and azithromycin can be prescribed instead.)
- Ceftriaxone with doxycycline or azithromycin for Gonorrhea and chlamydia
- Penicillin G for Syphilis. Penicillin allergy warrants an exchange with Azithromycin, Doxycycline, Tetracycline or ceftriaxone
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing?
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing?
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing?
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing?
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing?
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when.
Drop Your Block Here
What is PrEP?
WHAT MEDICATIONS ARE USED IN PrEP?
Currently, there are two drugs approved for use in the PrEP regime: Descovy and Truvada. Both these medications provide excellent protection against HIV in HIV-negative people. Both medications are approved to be used in daily PrEP regime as well.
Both Descovy and Truvada provide protection against HIV in people who are at risk for HIV infection due to unsafe sexual practices and/or drug use. However, only Truvada is approved for females who are at risk of getting HIV through both vaginal and anal intercourse.
WHO SHOULD TAKE PrEP?
PrEP is designed for HIV-negative people who are at risk of getting an HIV infection. Certain high-risk behaviors put you at a greater risk of developing an HIV infection than other people. These high risk behaviors include:
- Not using a condom for sexual intercourse
- Having multiple sexual partners
- Engaging in unprotected anal sex
- Having a partner with multiple sexual partners
- IV drug abuse
- Sharing injecting needles
- Involvement in transactional sex
Additionally, PrEP may also be right for you if you live with a partner who has HIV. Using PrEP regularly can protect you from getting an HIV infection even after having sex with an HIV-positive partner. Even if you are on PrEP, it is recommended to use a condom during any sexual intercourse to protect yourself against any other STDs.
What is nPEP?
Non-occupational HIV exposure refers to exposure to infected blood and other body secretions outside of healthcare settings. nPEP is useful in cases where HIV exposure has occurred due to sexual contact, needle sharing, vertical transmission in mothers, and blood transfusions.
nPEP VS PrEP
It is important to understand the difference between nPEP and a similar prophylaxis regime known as PrEP. nPEP is a treatment regime designed to prevent HIV infection after exposure to HIV has occurred. There is of course a time limit during which nPEP is effective against the virus – i.e. within 72 hours of the exposure for 28 consecutive days.
PrEP on the other hand refers to the prophylaxis treatment given to people who are HIV negative and are at a greater risk of being exposed to HIV. So the difference lies between the times of usage for both of these treatment regimes. PrEP is administered before exposure has occurred, while nPEP is useful within 72 hours after exposure to HIV has taken place. Both of these drugs, however, work towards the same goal: to prevent HIV infection.
IS nPEP RIGHT FOR YOU?
nPEP only works after HIV exposure, within a time limit that never exceeds 72 hours. Therefore, nPEP has very clear guidelines for its use as set forth by the CDC. If you are wondering whether or not you need nPEP, here are a few things to consider.
The nPEP regimen is right for you if you are HIV-negative and you believe you might have been exposed to HIV due to:
- Unprotected intercourse with an HIV-positive person
- Unprotected intercourse with someone whose HIV status is unknown
- Sharing injecting needles with others
- Criminal sexual assault
These guidelines are extremely important as they can prevent worst-case scenarios in extreme cases, such as getting HIV infection after a sexual assault – as happens in many rape cases. Your doctor can provide you with additional information on whether nPEP is the right choice for you or not.
How is nPEP different from PrEP?
nPEP is different from PrEP in mainly three ways:
- The intended time of use
- The drugs available and how to take them
- And the effectiveness of the therapy
WHEN TO USE nPEP AND PrEP?
Since both nPEP and PrEP provide prophylaxis against HIV, both need to be taken before an HIV infection has taken place. However, both these treatment options have different times of usage.
nPEP is a post-exposure prophylactic drug regime. This means that nPEP needs to be taken only after an HIV exposure has occurred. Usually, nPEP is given to patients by doctors in an emergency situation such as after getting exposed to HIV during unsafe sex and sharing injecting needles. Additionally, PrEP is also useful for patients who have been diagnosed with another STD in the past 6 months.
PrEP is most useful before exposure to HIV has occurred. This means that PrEP can be used regularly as daily protective medication for use against HIV. In fact, PrEP is one of the best methods to protect yourself from acquiring an HIV infection when your risk of exposure is high.
Factors that increase your risk of exposure include:
- Having multiple sexual partners
- Having unprotected intercourse
- Living with an HIV-positive partner
- Sharing drug needles
- Sharing personal hygiene products such as toothbrushes
WHAT DRUGS ARE AVAILABLE IN BOTH nPEP AND PrEP?
Generally, drugs overlap between the two regimes. However, their method of administration is different. nPEP involves taking a combination of three drugs daily for at least 28 days after getting HIV exposure. These three drugs include Tenofovir, Emtricitabine, and either Raltegravir or Dolutegravir.
PrEP on the other hand includes a different mode of administration. There are generally two ways PrEP can be taken. Everyday PrEP involves taking a single pill daily for as long as protection from HIV is required. This is the traditional method of administering PrEP and is approved for all people who make the cut for PrEP criteria.
Will PrEP still protect me from HIV even if I don't take it every day?
Although PrEP offers some protection against HIV even when not taken regularly, it is highly advised to take PrEP for 21 days then to continue one per day for as long as necessary. The level of protection is directly proportional to the level of adherence to the drug schedule. Irregularity in drug schedule leads to reduced efficacy of the treatment and possible HIV infection. It is most effective after 7 days for anal protection and 21 days for vaginal and blood-to-blood protection.
WHAT HAPPENS IF I DON’T TAKE PrEP EVERYDAY?
Doctors generally advise taking PrEP every day for maximum protection. This recommendation is backed by research data on the efficacy of PrEP when taken regularly. Thus, it is advised to take medicine for as long as you require protection against the virus. Traditionally, you are advised to take these drugs as long as you're sexually active. To reach maximum protection, PrEP is taken every day for 21 days. Afterward, you are required to take the pill every day for as long as you need protection against HIV.
The traditional daily approach is backed by science. Research suggests that PrEP is 99% effective in protecting against HIV when taken every day. Conversely, the efficacy drops down to 96% and 76% when you take these drugs four days a week and twice a week respectively. The directly proportional relationship between taking PrEP every day and increasing prophylactic protection against the virus is clearly evident. However, these statistics also show that missing medication up to 5 days per week will not nullify the effect of the drug. The treatment will be much less effective. This risky method can lead to HIV infection.
What happens after I finish my nPEP regimen?
However, the story doesn’t end after 28 days. Even though nPEP offers great protection against HIV when taken promptly, HIV testing still needs to be done after completion of the treatment to ensure maximum protection. Your doctor may schedule an appointment 4 weeks after your exposure to HIV, which would also be the date your nPEP regime comes to an end. Afterward, depending on your health situation, you might have at least two more appointments with your doctor for further testing. These are scheduled at 3 and 6 months from the date of HIV exposure respectively.
WHAT HAPPENS IF MY TESTS COME BACK POSITIVE AFTER TAKING nPEP?
Although nPEP provides adequate protection against HIV, the level of protection is not absolute. The strength of protection also decreases as more time passes after exposure. This is because delay gives the virus enough time to build up in the body of the patient. Once the viral load is high enough in the blood, a full infection ensues. At this point, there is very little that nPEP can do to prevent the infection.
If your HIV tests come back positive after completion of your nPEP regime, it means that the therapy did not work. Having a positive HIV status can be scary since there is no cure for the disease. However, there are still enough medications that can help you keep the virus at bay and let you live a normal, healthy life.
Antiretroviral therapy (ART) is highly successful against HIV. Studies have shown these drugs to be extremely effective in controlling the symptoms of HIV. ART lowers the viral load in the blood to a minimum. Eventually, the viral load drops down to an insignificant number. This is when we say that the viral load is “undetectable”. Once you’ve achieved an undetectable viral load, you can live a symptom-free life even with HIV for the most part.
How is nPEP different from PrEP?
Both nPEP and PrEP are prophylaxis regimens that work to prevent HIV infections. Naturally, both of these regimes have a lot in common. However, there are still some major differences between the two that are extremely important to understand.
nPEP is different from PrEP in mainly three ways:
-The intended time of use
-The drugs available and how to take them
-And effectiveness of the therapy
WHEN TO USE nPEP AND PrEP?
Since both nPEP and PrEP provide prophylaxis against HIV, both need to be taken before an HIV infection has taken place. However, both these treatment options have different times of usage.
nPEP is a post-exposure prophylactic drug regime. This means that nPEP needs to be taken only after an HIV exposure has occurred. Usually, nPEP is given to patients by doctors in emergency situation such as after getting exposed to HIV during unsafe sex and sharing injecting needles. Additionally, nPEP is also useful for patients who have been diagnosed with another STD in the past 6 months.
PrEP is most useful before exposure to HIV has occurred. This means that PrEP can be used regularly as daily protective medication for use against HIV. In fact, PrEP is one of the best methods to protect yourself from acquiring an HIV infection when your risk of exposure is high.
Factors that increase your risk of exposure include:
-Having multiple sexual partners
-Having unprotected intercourse
-Living with an HIV-positive partner
-Sharing drug needles
-Sharing personal hygiene products such as toothbrushes
WHAT DRUGS ARE AVAILABLE IN BOTH nPEP AND PrEP?
Generally, drugs overlap between the two regimes. However, their method of administration is different. nPEP involves taking a combination of three drugs daily for at least 28 days after getting HIV exposure. These three drugs include Tenofovir, Emtricitabine, and either Raltegravir or Dolutegravir.
PrEP on the other hand includes a different mode of administration. There are generally two ways PrEP can be taken. Everyday PrEP involves taking a single pill every day for as long as protection from HIV is required. This is the traditional method of administering PrEP and is approved for all people who make the cut for PrEP criteria.
There is also another way to PrEP however. The on-demand PrEP includes taking 2 pills from the PrEP regime 2-24 hours before sexual encounter. Then, a single pill is taken every day for at least 2 days after your last sexual encounter.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing?
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing?
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing?
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing?
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when.
Drop Your Block Here
Drop Your Block Here
Miami | Orlando | Lakeland | Bonita Springs | Jacksonville | Port St. Lucie | Tallahassee | West Palm
Drop Your Block Here
Independent Medical Group
5701 NW 88th Ave Suite 390, Tamarac, FL 33321
Drop Your Block Here
Drop Your Block Here