Protect yourself from HIV with a daily pill and contribute to your healthy life with a smart, simple way by using PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis). PrEP is just one of the many of services waiting for you at Prism Health North Texas.
taken daily will drastically reduce your chances of HIV
effective when taken as prescribed*
follow up appointments are quarterly and only 20 minutes
*CDC (https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/basics/prep/prep-effectiveness.html)
According to the CDC, if taken daily, PrEP reduces your risk for acquiring HIV by 99%. Once you begin taking PrEP, maximum protection is attained within 7 days for anal sex and within 21 days for vaginal sex.
MSM (men who have sex with men), intravenous drug users, and transgender women are at high risk of acquiring HIV.
PrEP can be for everyone, including heterosexual men and women. If you fall into any of the risks above, consider taking PrEP. It will protect you from potential exposure to HIV.
Like any medication, there are side effects. The most common PrEP medication side effects are nausea, headache, stomach-area (abdomen) pain, and increased or decreased weight, most of which usually dissipate within about 2 weeks as your body acclimates to the medication. About 13% of individuals on PrEP experience some bone density loss (which returns to former levels if PrEP is discontinued) and about 7% have headaches. Less than 1% of people on PrEP experience some kidney issues. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that bother you or do not go away.
If you have health insurance, there’s a great chance the cost will be covered under preventative care!
There are programs that can provide PrEP for you for free or at a reduced cost:
Per CDC guidelines follow up appointments are every 3 months for 15 – 20 minutes. The first thing your provider will do is take a blood test to confirm you are not living with HIV or other STIs. Quarterly visits are important for regular lab work and STI testing to monitor how the medication is working in your body and counter side effects. Medication must be taken daily – not just when you are going to have sex.
In 2018 Black people made up only 21.9% of the population in Dallas County but were 42.8% of new HIV infections. In 2019, Black people accounted for 44% (16,192) of HIV diagnoses in the United States and 13% of the national population.
There are many reasons for this disparity, including access to healthcare such as PrEP. Prism Health North Texas is dedicated to closing this gap and providing access to those most vulnerable to acquiring HIV.
PrEP is something you may take for only a limited time while you are most sexually active and protects you from acquiring HIV – a lifelong, costly infection that has serious side effects and health implications.
Remember that PrEP does not protect you from other STIs, so regular condom use in conjunction with PrEP is highly recommended. Talk to specially trained PHNTX staff who can help you with additional strategies to protect your sexual health and wellness.
By filling out the form, you can have a personal discussion with a medical professional to begin evaluating if PrEP is a good option for you. Request an appointment to start your journey.