Did you know that there is currently a drug available in the U.S. that will stop the transmission of HIV if taken before being exposured to the virus? Did you know there is also a drug protocol that can be taken within 72 hours after exposure to the virus to help prevent sero-conversion to HIVpositive status?

Shocking How Under-Reported This Is

PrEP and PEP are the latest acronyms in prevention of HIV transmission.

PrEP or Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis
Truvada…the brand name from a company named Gilead…is a drug that inhibits HIV from transmission and also helps people already infected with HIV stay healthy.

If you’re sexually active with people that are (or could be) HIV-positive, there is a highly effective way of  preventing transmission of the HIV virus.

PEP or Post Exposure Prophylaxis
Post-exposure prophylaxis involves taking anti-HIV medications as soon as possible (within 3 days) after you may have been exposed to HIV to try to reduce the chance of becoming HIV positive. PEP is a month-long course of emergency medication taken to try to keep HIV from making copies of itself and spreading through your body.

If you think you might have been exposed to HIV, go immediately to a clinic or emergency room and ask for PEP.

PEP is safe but may cause side effects like nausea in some people. These side effects can be treated and are not life threatening. PEP is not 100% effective; it does not guarantee that someone exposed to HIV will not become infected with HIV.

I’m honestly shocked at how many people don’t know about these treatments…I feel like we’re back in the Reagan era and the government is too ashamed to use the word AIDS.

A recent story from someone I know was almost shamed into not getting PEP by three different doctors after he had a drunken night of sex with someone whose HIV status he didn’t know.  He finally had to demand access to PEP.  It’s bad enough shaming yourself after doing something you regret, but having the medical profession add to that is unacceptable.  This man stood up for his rights and was able to stay uninfected by the HIV virus.  I would have much preferred that he had been highly pressured to get the PEP treatment.

Making questionable choices about sexual activity should NOT be punished by withholding something that could critically affect someone’s health and possibly life.

Educate, communicate and advocate for yourselves and others…we are so much closer to eradicating this plague today and we should not be stopped by judgemental pricks who think sexuality should be condemned.

Current Knitting

It seems I have a couple of more rows to finish on the Niece Blanket.

I thought I was finished last night, but didn’t feel like laying out the blanket to measure it.  I’m glad I didn’t cast off, since I should probably do another 2 or 4 rows first.

Then I need to decide on an edging.