We would like to echo a message sent out by Positively Living Inc in Knoxville regarding HIV prevention:
PrEP is preventative medication used by people who are HIV-negative but at high risk for being exposed to HIV through sexual contact or injection drug use. Individuals can take PrEP medication ahead of time in order to prevent the virus from establishing an infection
COVID-19 has led to a decrease in sexual activity (good job social distancing y’all!) Unfortunately, this has also resulted in some folks forgetting or stopping their Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), which helps prevent the spread of HIV.
It is very important to continue taking PrEP as directed for a few reasons:
- It can be very difficult to predict when your next sexual encounter might be, and once you stop and then re-start PrEP it takes 7 days to become effective for males, and 21 days for females!
- If you stop, you MUST have an HIV test prior to restarting PrEP. This is because if an individual is HIV positive and begins taking PrEP, the virus could become resistant to anti-viral medications.
- We are living in an uncertain time and stress levels are at an all-time high. One benefit of taking PrEP is that it can help reduce anxiety surrounding sex, and our lives in general.
Choice Health Network is committed to making PrEP accessible, even during COVID-19. We are continuing to offer telehealth appointments combined with labs to make the process as safe as possible. And, if you would prefer a 90-day supply of PrEP as opposed to a 30-day supply, we can provide that!
Reducing the number of new HIV infections remains a public health priority. Please do your part! If you have any questions or need help accessing PrEP, please call our medical clinic at 865-525-1540 or click here to learn more.