HIV and PrEP
(If you see something disrespectful, offensive, or incorrect about this information, contact an HEP staff member at healthed@wku.edu or call (270) 745-4491)
The Basics
HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is a virus that attacks the body’s immune system. If HIV is not treated, it can lead to AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome).
Prevention and treatment for HIV is much better and more available today, but there is still no effective cure. HIV can be controlled, however, with proper medical care. People with HIV who get effective treatment can live long, healthy lives and protect their partners.
The State of Healthcare for LGBTQIA+ patients
How it Affects LGBTQIA+ People
HIV incidence is typically measure by race, ethnicity, age group, and mode of transmission. But, when you factor in sexual orientation, HIV/AIDS disproportionately affects the LGBTQIA+ community. In 2019:
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Gay men, bisexual men, and men who have sex with men (MSMs) accounted for 65% of the new diagnoses,
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Black/African American MSMs accounted for 26% of new HIV diagnoses and 37.9% of diagnoses among all MSM,
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Transgender men accounted for 2% of new diagnoses, and
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The largest percentage (24%) of diagnoses of HIV infection among transgender persons was for transgender male-to-female adults and adolescents aged 20-24 years.
The only way to know for sure whether you have HIV is to get tested! And, HEP offers FREE confidential HIV testing to WKU students on a monthly basis.
Check out our HIV testing calendar or contact us: email healthed@wku.edu or call (270) 745-4491 with any questions!
HIV Testing Calendar
PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) is a medicine for those at risk of contracting HIV. It is taken to prevent infection from the virus from sex or injection drug use. When taken as prescribed, reducing the risk of getting HIV is reduced by at least 74% (for sex,, it is about 99%)!
PrEP is the MOST effective and/or reaches maximum protection from HIV for...
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Receptive anal sex (bottoming) at about 7 days of daily use.
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Receptive vaginal sex and injection drug use at about 21 days of daily use.
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There is no data for its effectiveness for insertive anal sex (topping) or insertive vaginal sex,
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Talk with your health care provider to see if PrEP is right for you, or click here!
PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) is medicine for the prevention of HIV AFTER being exposed.
Exposure can happen during sex (if the condom breaks or relying on withdrawal), sharing drug injection equipment, or if you were sexually assaulted. It must be taken as soon as possible, within 72 hours at the latest, as this is an emergency situation!
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PEP is given after a possible exposure to HIV.
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PEP is NOT a substitute for regular use of other HIV prevention (condoms, PrEP, low-risk sex activities, and abstaining).
If you are at ongoing risk for HIV, such as through repeated exposure, PEP is NOT THE RIGHT CHOICE FOR YOU. Talk to your health care provider about PrEP. (This is a similar to emergency contraception not being suitable for those repeatedly engaging in high-risk sex activities).
There are a lot of emotions to process and choices to make, but you are not alone. Being diagnosed with HIV is life-changing but certainly not a death sentence!
Your focus should be to take care of yourself and protect others.
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Reach out to a primary health care provider or a primary HIV health care provider to lead your health care team
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Reach out to an allied health provider (mental health provider, nurses, pharmacists, etc.) or a social service provider (patient navigators, case managers, substance use specialists, etc.) to help you through the first stages of HIV.
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Start HIV Treatment (anti-retroviral therapy, ART) as soon as possible
All the information you could need is available HERE.
Five Things to Know About HIV Treatment
For more information about HIV and LGBTQIA+ correlation, visit:
HIV.gov - Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender
VAWnet - HIV Across LGBTQ Communities
NBC News - The Early Days of America's AIDS crisis
Some of the links on this page may require additional software to view.