A PROBLEM SHARED
Got a problem? Dr Ranj Singh is here to offer his advice
Dr Ranj is always here for you
Your friends are just looking out for your best interests and want you to enjoy your sexuality as safely as possible – it’s great that they care about your wellbeing. But any medical intervention or treatment should only be undertaken when you know all the facts and understand any possible risks.
As most of us will know, PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis) is a simple and very effective way of reducing your chances of contracting HIV through sex — and unprotected sex, in particular. It is an antiretroviral medication (the same treatment given to those who are HIV-positive) which stops the HIV virus from establishing itself if it enters the body. Luckily, after many trials and campaigns, PrEP is now available freely across the UK – although the exact provision may depend on where you live.
As with any medicine, there are potential side effects, but these aren’t inevitable, don’t tend to be serious, and often improve with time. Common symptoms include: headaches, nausea and vomiting, diarrhoea, tiredness and skin rashes. Long-term use of antiretroviral medication can also affect the kidneys, liver and cause changes in your blood fats. This means that anyone taking them needs regular blood tests to make sure everything is OK. There is also the tiny chance that you might be allergic to one of the ingredients, although this is pretty rare.
There are different PrEP regimens, too. Some people swallow the pill every day, while others follow an ‘event-based’ dosing, where you take it around the times you have unprotected sex (before and after) instead. Many people will also have PrEP holidays, when they have a period of time when they might not be having sex, they use another method of protection (condoms), or if they’re with a regular partner and are getting tested routinely.
Deciding to take it or not should be your decision alone. Just remember that PrEP only protects against HIV (and has been really good at driving rates down). It does not prevent you from catching any of the other STIs, such as chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis and herpes – many of which are on the rise.
By all means, go out and live your best sex life, but make sure it is as safe as possible for both you and your sexual partner.
I’ve recently become single and have started hooking up with guys. My friends all think I should be on PrEP, but I’m really not sure about it. Will it cause me any side effects if I take it? Lucas, York “PrEP is available across the UK, although this may depend on where you live”