How Do You Know Youre Ready to Bottom
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Virtually 70% of people living with HIV are homosexual and bisexual men – and thankfully the apply of PrEP for HIV prevention is increasing amidst this group. According to a recent written report, the number of gay and bisexual males taking PrEP increased by 500% from 2014 to 2017. Notwithstanding, only 35% of gay and bisexual males who were at high-chance of HIV transmission were taking the medication.
It is important that anybody takes the proper precautions to protect themselves from HIV transmission. While some people are at more chance than others due to lifestyle choices or other practices, there is a common misconception that your risk of HIV transmission is higher or lower depending on your sexual orientation or preferred sexual position.
PrEP is designed to help protect any person – regardless of sexual orientation – from HIV manual. But, you lot may be wondering if PrEP could touch you lot differently or exist more or less constructive depending on if you lot are a tiptop, bottom, or vers.
For case, many tops assume they exercise not demand to take PrEP since they are at a lower risk of contracting HIV than a lesser – since they are not penetrated.
So, does PrEP piece of work differently for tops and bottoms?
Well offset, permit'south explicate what puts you near at risk for HIV manual and why you should consider taking PrEP in the first place – regardless of sexual orientation.
Are You at Loftier Run a risk?
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PrEP is a medication that is recommended for people who are at a high hazard of HIV transmission. Some of the leading causes of HIV transmission include:
- Engaging in unprotected sex (not using a prophylactic) with a partner who is HIV positive or whose HIV condition is unknown.
- Engaging in unprotected sexual practice with partners who have additional sexual partners.
- Having unprotected sex if y'all have been diagnosed with an STI.
- Sharing needles or syringes.
The only fashion HIV can exist transmitted to another person is through contact with blood, semen, or vaginal fluids. It is also important to annotation that uncircumcised males are at a slightly higher risk of contracting HIV – since they are more prone to leaner and infections. In that location is bear witness that male circumcision can also reduce the risk of HIV transmission.
Homosexual and bisexual males are typically at a higher risk of contracting HIV. The manual rate through anal sex is more than ten times greater than through vaginal intercourse. Receptive anal sex also has a higher manual rate, meaning that the hazard of HIV transmission is higher for bottoms than for tops.
Nonetheless, this does not mean that tops are not at risk as the insertive partner may as well contract HIV through anal intercourse. And then, whether you are a top, a bottom, or versatile, y'all could be at a high take a chance of HIV transmission, and yous should consider taking PrEP.
What Does PrEP Do?
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PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) is a medication that helps to reduce the risk of HIV manual by preventing the virus from multiplying or growing inside the body. PrEP is a combination of two drugs which help to fight off infection and as well stop HIV from reproducing within a healthy host.
Before a person can exist prescribed PrEP by their doctor, they must first be tested for HIV. PrEP is intended to exist taken before a person is exposed; therefore, if they already have HIV, they need to seek another HIV treatment every bit opposed to PrEP.
PrEP must be taken daily for at least vii days before information technology is effective at preventing HIV manual through anal sexual activity. This is because PrEP tends to collect in the colorectal tissue first before it is more than nowadays in other bodily tissues. Withal, it is still recommended that condoms are used during intercourse for additional protection.
What Does PrEP Not Do?
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Information technology is important to analyze that PrEP does non cure HIV – it prevents a person who is HIV negative from contracting the virus if they are exposed to it.
PrEP does not protect anyone from other STDs, such every bit chlamydia, gonorrhea, canker, or syphilis. It is besides recommended that you lot keep to use condoms during sexual intercourse while on PrEP to provide the highest corporeality of protection from HIV transmission and STD/STI prevention.
Taking PrEP is the best fashion to protect yourself and your partner from HIV transmission. However, even if you have the medication, yous should also do anything that you tin to lower your HIV transmission gamble past:
- E'er using condoms during sexual contact.
- Getting regularly checked for STIs and STDs.
- Requesting sexual partners to be checked for STIs and STDs and knowing their HIV condition.
- Never sharing needles or syringes with others.
While taking PrEP should not by any means deter you from using a safe during intercourse, it can actually exist quite empowering for homosexual men who adopt to bottom during intercourse.
Bottoms are typically at a higher hazard for HIV manual, since they rely on the pinnacle to wear a condom – and HIV is transmitted more than ordinarily through anal intercourse. This gives the bottom less control over protection. However, by taking PrEP, bottoms can exist significantly more empowered to protect themselves from HIV transmission.
PrEP tin can also help to remove some of the anxiety that is experienced during sexual intercourse, equally gay and bisexual men are often fearful of transmission – specially if a condom is not worn or if information technology breaks. Beingness on PrEP virtually eliminates the take a chance of HIV manual in this example.
What Medication is Available?
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In that location are currently two medications approved past the FDA for PrEP: Truvada and Descovy.
Both of these medications can exist upwards to 99% effective at HIV prevention when taken correctly. However, the notable difference between these medications is that Descovy is currently only approved for utilise in cisgender males and transgender females, while Truvada is approved for all genders.
PrEP does not have whatever significant health furnishings even with long-term use, merely you lot may experience some side furnishings, such as:
- Rash
- Headaches
- Diarrhea
- Airsickness or nausea
- Loss of ambition
- Abdominal pain
- Changes in weight
Some more astringent side furnishings that may occur can be kidney issues, liver problems, or os density loss. Just these often occur in people who had wellness bug prior to taking PrEP. Ultimately, it is betwixt you and your dr. to determine whether or non PrEP is the best pick for you.
How do I Become PrEP?
PrEP can but exist prescribed by a medico, so you will need to talk to a physician about taking it. Your doctor may inquire you lot some questions to determine your risk factors for HIV transmission – and then talk over your options.
You will first need to be tested to ensure that you do non currently have HIV. This involves a unproblematic claret test – and the results volition be available in a matter of days.
If yous have insurance, the cost of HIV should be completely covered or y'all may have to brand a small-scale co-pay. Some or all of your medication costs may also exist covered nether Medicare or Medicaid. If you do not have insurance, there are some options to help you lot exist able to afford PrEP, including the Cost Assistance program from Gilead.
Conclusion
No matter your sexual orientation or preferred position, if you are at risk of HIV transmission, you should consider taking PrEP. This is by far the best way to protect yourself from HIV transmission, in addition to safer practices to lower your risk.
If you have any further questions regarding PrEP and want to larn more, please contact us at PrEP Daily. We have a team of Navigators to work with you on an individual ground to reply whatever questions and become you connected with a healthcare provider.
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Source: https://prepdaily.org/tops-bottoms-and-prep-what-you-need-to-know-about-hiv-prevention/
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