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Prep just part of life

Discussion in 'Physical & Sexual Health' started by Ballplayer, Sep 4, 2021.

  1. Ballplayer

    Ballplayer Guest

    I see lots of comments on other sites about guys saying "just get on prep" when the discussion is about condoms or asking about testing. Seems like soon being on prep will just be common and instead of asking about someone's health status or when their last test was they'll just ask "are you on prep".
     
  2. QuietPeace

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    Asking about someones history, health status and testing is about trying to reduce your chance of being exposed to HIV and other STI's from your partners. If someone else is on PrEP that is about them not getting HIV from their sexual partners (you) and it says nothing about the partners safety in having sex with them.

    Also, "just get on PrEP" is not enough. Even if you are on PrEP it is recommended that you use barrier protection during sex (condoms or dental dams depending on physiology)

    https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/basics/prep/about-prep.html
     
    PatrickUK likes this.
  3. PatrickUK

    Advisor Full Member

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    I don't think it's bad advice to "get on" PrEP, but we need to stop thinking of PrEP as a magic bullet that will offer us immunity from STI's, because it absolutely will not. PrEP offers an added layer of protection, but it doesn't remove the need for condoms or cancel out all of the messages about safe sex and getting tested on a regular basis. We also need to understand that long term use of PrEP may affect our bones and kidney and liver functions, so the idea of getting on it and staying on it isn't risk free either.

    If you are hooking up with lots of different people (not really wise with Covid risks) it's probably a good idea to take PrEP, but this doesn't remove the need for using condoms or asking questions of people who you intend to have sex with. And if the answers to your questions are not good enough you shouldn't have sex.