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Sunday, December 13, 2015

PrEP, It's Not Just For Gay Guys!

[I'm taking a really brief break from my personal reflections here, to put out sort of a PSA about PrEP for anyone reading this who doesn't identify as strictly gay or male. I myself identify as a queer man, and though I'm generally looking for other men, I have been with women as well, and it may happen again (sorry boys, no gold star here). Anyway, straight or gay, I think this information is important. Thanks, folks!]

That's right! PrEP isn't just for gay men... it's for bi and straight guys and women. Take a look at this slide from a Truvada for Prep training quiz (assembled by Gilead, the makers of Truvada):



Truvada (for PrEP) is indicated for any adult who is "at high risk for sexually transmitted HIV-1 infection".

This absolutely doesn't mean that every single person should be on PrEP. Not even every person at high risk should be. Every medical decision you make should be made in collaboration with your doctor and other relevant care providers; there are lots of great reasons not to take PrEP that your doctor can explain to you. The most important thing to do is to have an honest conversation with medical professionals that you know and trust. The process of beginning any medication or treatment should always be taken seriously, and only with proper information.

Part of busting down the stigma against HIV and PrEP is being informed: we know that HIV is not restricted to the LGBTQ community; though marginalized communities are certainly disproportionately affected by HIV, as the linked article points out, "(t)he majority of people living with HIV worldwide are straight (heterosexual)."

Regardless of your sexuality, and whether or not PrEP is right for you, it's always important to #knowyourstatus, and to look out for your sexual health.


If you're interested in learning more, Gilead has a fantastic website detailing PrEP for HIV- (negative) individuals. It's a bit text-heavy, but it's packed with a lot of useful information. Another resource to help start the conversation about PrEP.

If you'd like to get tested, virtually any Planned Parenthood can conduct tests for HIV and other STI's, not to mention most family doctors. For more resources, the CDC has a fabulous site dedicated to HIV testing, as well as a testing site locator


Myths About HIV. (2015, April 7). Retrieved December 12, 2015, from http://www.thebody.com/content/art58887.html 

1 comment:

  1. Good point. Anyone in the dating scene is going to encounter people who may have been "active" in a less than safe manner and may be unpleasantly surprised at a later point in time. Sometimes things are transmitted/discovered much later in a relationship (i.e. years), but that's a different topic for discussion. If you (that is, anyone) has more less than a year with one sexual partner and/or more than one partner between the two so engaged, it is prudent to be safe. Not 100% effective but much, much better than nothing. This goes for EVERYBODY/ANYBODY not ANTIBODY.

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