HIV positive partner, do I need to take a prep medicine?

When you are infected with HIV, you will have it for life. HIV also has no cure. This is what makes HIV a frightening specter in society. Especially if you hear about an HIV positive partner. You may also be worried that you might catch HIV from him. The reason is, the HIV virus is very easily transmitted through sex.

So if you live with someone who is HIV positive, you need to know ways to protect yourself from HIV transmission. One way is to take the drug PrEP.

Should I take PrEP if my partner is HIV positive?

Once your doctor knows that your partner is HIV positive, he or she will usually prescribe you the drug PrEP. PrEP drugs (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis) is a drug to prevent infection for people who are at high risk of contracting HIV. Quoted from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, PrEP is a combination of two HIV drugs, tenofovir and emtricitabine, which is sold under the name Truvada®.

So, how important is it for you to take PrEP if your partner is HIV positive? The answer, must be because it is very important and very necessary. Still according to the CDC, PrEP is one of the effective ways to prevent HIV if it is used consistently. It is recommended that you take this medicine once a day to prevent transmission of HIV infection from an HIV positive partner.

PrEP is able to fully protect you from HIV transmitted through anal sex after 7 days of use. Meanwhile, PrEP can protect the maximum from HIV transmission through vaginal sex and the use of needles after 20 days of consumption. This drug is well tolerated by the body for up to five years of use.

You still have to use a condom during sex, even if you regularly take PrEP

Even so, PrEP does not automatically make you 100% HIV free. Used alone, it's only about 92 percent efficacy at lowering your risk of acquiring HIV.

To further increase its effectiveness in preventing HIV, it is still important for both of you to always practice safe sex using condoms. Regularly taking PrEP and always using a condom when having sex with an HIV-positive partner can guarantee you 100% avoid the risk of HIV transmission.

In addition, using condoms can also provide protection from the risk of other sexually transmitted diseases such as gonorrhea (gonorrhea) or chlamydia. Taking PrEP alone will not protect you from the risk of venereal disease.

It is also important to undergo routine testing for HIV and venereal disease together.

What else do I need to know about PrEP?

PrEP is a drug that has a minimal risk of side effects so it is safe for long-term consumption. The most common side effect of PrEP is nausea, but it's not so severe that it interferes with daily activities.

You can also stop using PrEP if your risk of HIV exposure decreases. For example, you may stop having multiple sex partners or stop sharing needles with syringes. However, you still need to consult your doctor if you plan to stop using this one drug.