1
Take an anti-HIV/p24 serological test2
Rule out retroviral disease3
Verify proper kidney function4
Exclude HBV infection and vaccinate against HBV if necessary5
Test for other sexually transmitted infections, including HCVPrEP / HIV
Take care of your and your partner's safety
The HIV virus is one of the greatest risks associated with active sex life. Even though knowledge about HIV is increasing, the number of people infected with HIV continues to rise. Every year, in Poland and around the world the number of HIV infections is increasing. It is important to remember that untreated HIV infection leads to death.
How can you become infected with HIV?
Tearing or breaking a condom during sexual contact
Contact with blood
Mother-to-child contact
Sexual contact
HIV infection is most commonly transmitted through sexual contact. Every kind of sexual contact (vaginal, anal, oral) without the use of condoms involves the risk of infection.
Act preventively – you can avoid HIV infection by taking PrEP.
Contact with blood
The risk of HIV infection exists during blood or blood products transfusions as well as organ or tissues transplants, but all donors are precisely tested to avoid this risk. Additionally, HIV may be transmitted through the use of non-sterilized equipment during invasive medical or cosmetic procedures. Intravenous drug users may also become infected with HIV through the use of shared and/or non-sterilized needles or nasal tubes for inhaled drugs.
Mother-to-child contact
HIV can also be transmitted from an HIV-positive mother to her child. This can happen during fetal life, delivery or breastfeeding.
The pill that will save your health
PrEP pre-exposure prophylaxisIt is a combination of antiretroviral medicines, which eliminate the HIV before it settles in the organism. Taking PrEP can significantly reduce the risk of HIV infection.
What is PReP?
PrEP medicines are a combination of two substances: emitritabine and tenofovir.- How does PrEP work?
- How long should the treatment continue?
- How to take PrEP?
Medicines stop the virus from entering through the mucosa during sexual contact. In other words, the virus is blocked and so it cannot infect the body of an uninfected person.
PrEP treatment should be continued as long as there is a risk of HIV infection.
Medicines - 300mg of disoproxil tenofovir fumarate and 200mg of emtricitabine - should be administered orally, once a day with a meal. It is important to take the medicines regularly.
Who should use PrEP, and when?
According to the recommendations of the Polish AIDS Scientific Society (Polskie Towarzystwo Naukowe AIDS), PrEP should be used in adults who have a higher risk of acquiring HIV infection.
Your risk is increased when you have sexual contact with a HIV-positive person or a person with unknown serological status, especially if condoms are not used consistently. The risk of becoming infected with HIV also increases with the intravenous use of drugs.
The risk of HIV infection may increase if:
- within the last year, your partner was diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection,
- your partner has been taking post-exposure prophylaxis within the last year,
- your partner uses drugs during sexual contacts,
- your partner provides sexual services.
Joanna Kubicka, MD, PhD
Joanna Kubicka, MD, PhD
I want to start taking PrEP. What should I do?
Do not raise the statistics. Know the risks.
over
0
people around the world are newly infected with HIV everyday.
over
0
registered HIV
infections in Poland
(until September 2019)
infections in Poland
(until September 2019)
even
%
of HIV-positive
Polish people
may not know they are infected.
Polish people
may not know they are infected.
Learn more
Is PrEP available in Poland?
Yes, on the Polish market, we can buy PrEP medicines produced by a few different pharmaceutical companies. The medicines are available only in pharmacies, only with a prescription and come at different prices.
Is it possible to order PrEP medicines from abroad?
It is very important to take the medicine only when it comes from a verified source, It should be bought in a legal pharmacy and produced in a legal factory, which are liable to relevant laws and regulations. It is worth to remember that using someone else's medicines or buying them from unreliable source carries a risk and can be dangerous to your health and safety.
What is the current state of research on PrEP?
The first results of studies on PrEP were announced in 2015. They showed that taking PrEP reduces the number of HIV infections by 86%. Slightly later, it turned out that among 657 people surveyed in the United States, who used PrEP for 2,5 years, no new HIV infections were observed.
What should be done when I stop taking PrEP?
If PrEP treatment is finished, you should take a serological test to rule out HIV infection. The last test should be taken six months after the last dose of PrEP.
What should I do after sexual contact with a person with an unknown HIV status?
Get tested. It only takes a few minutes. There is no fasting involved. The test can be anonymous. If your HIV test result is negative, we can prepare to start PrEP treatment.
