In order to prevent HIV infection, it is not enough to simply observe the regulations. You must know who you are and what your beliefs are in order to protect yourself and others from disease.
It necessitates a well-informed, comprehensive approach—one that allows you to do more than simply roll the dice, but rather to gain a thorough understanding of infection dynamics and how to avoid it altogether.
Your HIV-prevention plan can be tailored to your specific needs by doing a little research.
Table of Contents
Know Your Limits
The truth is that many people still have misconceptions about how HIV spreads, either underestimating or even exaggerating the true dangers. Getting the facts straight, understanding the channels of transmission, and determining which activities put you at particular risk are the first steps in informed prevention.
PrEP is an antiretroviral therapy that you should Take
Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is an approach for reducing the risk of HIV infection by taking an antiviral pill every day.
In addition to being an important component of an overall prevention plan, this evidence-based method offers a means of reducing infection rates in vulnerable populations. Consult with your doctor about whether or not HIV Prevention Pill is a good option for you.
Stay undetectable
HIV-infected patients with undetectable viral loads can’t pass the infection on to others through the use of treatment as prevention (TasP). A total of 782 mixed-status couples engaged in condomless intercourse in the PARTNER1 and PARTNER2 studies, which ran from 2010 to 2018, did not experience any HIV transmission.
Safely Conceive
One partner is HIV positive while the other is HIV negative in about half of all HIV-affected couples. Due to significant advancements in antiretroviral medication, serodiscordant couples now have more options than ever before for conceiving, allowing for pregnancy while reducing the danger of transfer to the uninfected partner.
In reality, the uninfected partner should not become infected if TasP and PrEP are administered correctly.
Prevent Transmission from Mother to Child
A mother’s health is at the forefront of all efforts to prevent mother-to-child transmission (pMTCT).
Success hinges on timely intervention. Prevention of transmission after birth is possible, but your chances of success are better the earlier you begin treatment after learning you are pregnant.
Since antiretroviral medication is used by both mother and child, the probability of transmission has dropped to less than 2 percent.
Shared Needles Should Not Be Used
As many as 20% to 40% of people who use injectable drugs (IDUs) are HIV infected as a result of sharing needles, according to recent estimates. Those at risk include both drug users and their sexual partners, who may be completely unaware of the other person’s drug use.
Many states in the United States have established needle exchange programmes (NEPs) to help combat the spread of HIV and other blood-borne infections.
Avoid Infection After Exposure
The risk of HIV infection can be considerably reduced with the use of drugs if you have been exposed to the virus through unprotected intercourse or other high-risk activities. It’s known as post-exposure prophylaxis. (PEP).
Taking Truvada (tenofovir + emtricitabine) once per day, with 400 mg of Isentress (raltegravir) twice per day, is the recommended treatment for HIV infection.
OR
Taking Tivicay (dolutegravir) 50 mg once a day
