PrEP (Pre-exposure Prophylaxis) has significantly helped in HIV prevention worldwide. It is an effective prevention method that reduces the chances of getting HIV. PrEP can reduce the chances of getting the virus by 99%, making it a reliable preventive measure for HIV. As an effort towards HIV prevention, Equality Health offers PrEP medications. If you are at risk of getting HIV through sex or shared injections, contact us today and prevent HIV with PrEP.
What is PrEP for HIV Prevention?
PrEP, referred to as Pre-exposure Prophylaxis, is a medication used by people who are at risk of getting HIV. HIV is not a curable disease. Once a person is infected with the virus, it requires lifelong treatment to minimize the consequences of the infection. However, PrEP has played a significant role in preventing HIV in non-infected people. The PrEP medications do not allow the virus to enter the cells and prevent HIV from spreading throughout the body.
At our clinic, we use the most effective FDA-approved medications for PrEP, such as:
- Truvada: It is an HIV prevention pill that works by blocking the entry pathways of HIV. This drug prevents HIV from replicating within the body.
- Descovy: Another pill we use for PrEP is Descovy, which prevents HIV from replicating in the bloodstream. It does so by blocking the entry pathways of HIV.
- Apretude: We also use Apretude as an injection shot for PrEP. The shot is a long-acting drug that inhibits HIV replication by blocking the viral DNA’s function.
PrEP has proved to be effective, with 99% reliability, in preventing the virus through sex. On the other hand, it lowers virus transmission through shared injections by 74%. Its high efficiency against HIV is what makes it an important method for HIV prevention.
So, if you are at risk of being infected, contact our healthcare professionals to get PrEP for HIV prevention.
Who Should Get PrEP?
The medication program for PrEP for HIV prevention is for all HIV-negative individuals who have greater chances of being exposed to the virus. Our program is eligible for people who:
- Participate in sex with HIV-infected individuals
- Engage in unprotected sex with multiple partners
- Use shared injection equipment
- Work as a sex worker
- Have other STDs, such as syphilis, gonorrhea, and so on
- Are interested in protecting themselves from HIV
Whatever the case may be, our healthcare professionals will thoroughly assess your situation and guide you in our PrEP program.
Our comprehensive assessment to check the HIV status includes:
- HIV testing: We carry out HIV testing for the assessment process to check your HIV status. Before starting PrEP, you must test negative for HIV.
- STI screening: This test is done to check if you have any other sexually transmitted infections. It mainly covers infections such as chlamydia, syphilis, and gonorrhea.
- Kidney function tests: Our lab technicians will take your blood sample to determine the condition of your kidneys. This is because the PrEP medication may rarely impact the health of your kidneys.
- Hepatitis B test: We also conduct hepatitis B tests before moving forward with PrEP.
Our specialists offer individual-focused PrEP medication after a thorough assessment of the above test results. We make sure to implement safety standards in our medication programs for all individuals, including special populations.
Our PrEP Services in Shawnee, OK, Include:
The PrEP service we provide at our clinic includes an extensive initiation process that caters to individual needs. The procedures that we follow for the initiation are as follows:
Step 1: Schedule an Appointment
First, you have to book an appointment with our specialists for consultation. You can either call or make an online appointment through our website. We make sure to keep your details confidential and offer you a private consultation with our experts.
Step 2: Medical Evaluation and Side Effects Discussion
After the consultation, you are made to go through various tests to determine your health status. Our experts assess your test results to carry on with further processing depending on your existing health condition. Also, the specialists discuss the potential side effects of PrEP medications to ease you into the process. Some common side effects of these medications may include headache, nausea, vomiting, etc.
Step 3: PrEP Medication
Our healthcare experts prescribe you PrEP medication only if you are eligible for it. The medical assessment helps determine your eligibility beforehand. For the medications, we mainly use Truvada, Descovy, and Apretude injection shots. Our specialists prescribe the medications that suit your health condition the best.
Step 4: Continuous Medical Support
We deeply value your health and well-being. Our health professionals are there for you at each step of the PrEP medication process. So, we offer you never-ending medical assistance to help you keep HIV infection at bay.
With us, you can be assured of a reliable PrEP medication. So, contact us for consultation and be a part of our initiative to make Shawnee HIV-free.
Monitoring Success and Follow-Up for PrEP Care
Regular monitoring and follow-up are crucial aspects of PrEP medication. After our specialists prescribe you medication, they keep your health status in check and keep track of your PrEP success. This process includes regular tests for HIV, kidney, STI, hepatitis, and so on. Such monitoring allows us to protect you from the risk of HIV infection more effectively.
Our regular monitoring and follow-up for PrEP for HIV prevention, include:
3 Months of Monitoring
- Frequent HIV testing, along with symptom monitoring
- Pregnancy tests for women
- Monitoring PrEP medicine refills prescribed for a 90-day limit
- Assess daily medication adherence and potential side effects
- STI screening if necessary
6 Months of Monitoring
- Perform kidney tests to monitor kidney functioning
- Assess potential risks for kidney failure due to the medications
12 Months of Monitoring
- Perform a hepatitis C test
- Carry out hepatitis B test
Our PrEP program is designed to provide you with medical support throughout the treatment period. We evaluate every step of the procedure and prescribe what is best for you to prevent HIV risks.
Cost of PrEP for HIV Prevention in Shawnee, OK
If you have valid insurance, the insurance policy covers most of the PrEP cost.
Additionally, for low-income individuals with no insurance, there are some programs available that we can use to help make PrEP accessible to you. If you have any additional queries about the cost requirements, you can consult with us right away. We will help you with everything that we can.
Contact Equality Health for PrEP in Shawnee, OK
Equality Health always prioritizes your health. Backed by certified and well-experienced specialists, we ensure safe and reliable PrEP for HIV prevention. We also provide services for HIV treatment, STD Treatment, Hepatitis C testing, Hepatitis C treatment, HIV testing, and STD testing services in Shawnee. Call our medical support at (405) 761-2762 today!
Let us help you in your journey toward HIV prevention.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Absolutely! PrEP is an effective HIV prevention method. Medications such as Truvada, Descovy, and Apretude have proven to be 99% effective in preventing HIV transmission through sex. Not only that, Truvada is also effective in reducing HIV risks by 74% through shared injections.
Not necessarily. PrEP only works for HIV prevention, you might still be at risk of getting other STDs when engaging in sexual activity without condoms. Therefore, in order to make our PrEP treatment efforts a success, make sure to adhere to PrEP medications along with preventive approaches such as protected sex.
PrEP pills start working within 7 days of daily medicine intake for receptive anal sex. On the other hand, it takes about 21 days of regular pill intake for PrEP to work for receptive vaginal sex, as well as shared injection use. However, it is yet unknown how long the injection medication works for PrEP.
Yes, medications for PrEP for HIV prevention are only available under an authorized prescription. So, you must have a prescription in order to get the PrEP medicines.