PrEP 101 – Why Women Should Consider This Daily Pill for HIV Prevention
What if a small blue pill could safeguard your health, protecting you from a virus that sickens and kills millions of women around the globe?
That’s the promise and power of PrEP, which is like birth control for HIV. PrEP is up to 99% effective at preventing HIV when taken daily.
Why should women take PrEP?
HIV is often depicted as afflicting men — when the truth is women account for one in five new HIV diagnoses in the United States, per the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Among Black women the numbers are far worse. One in 54 Black women will be diagnosed with HIV in her lifetime.
PrEP is for women who are HIV negative and want to stay that way. If you and your partners are straight, you’re not immune to HIV — even though you might not think you’re at risk.
A little-known fact is HIV affects close to one in five heterosexual couples. In these couples, women bear the brunt of the infection. Heterosexual women are more than twice as likely to be diagnosed with HIV than than their straight male partners, per 2017 stats from the CDC.
Roughly 1 million people in this country are at serious risk for HIV and could benefit from PrEP, but fewer than one in 10 actually take PrEP. That’s why innovative online providers like Nurx are pushing to make PrEP widely available and easy to get.
Who can take PrEP?
PrEP is a smart choice for many women. You can take the daily pill as long as you’re 18 or older and HIV negative. You should consider PrEP if you:
- Have multiple sexual partners
- Are in a sexual relationship with an HIV-positive person
- Are trying to get pregnant with a partner who has HIV
- Have been diagnosed with gonorrhea, chlamydia, or syphilis
- STDs may increase your risk of getting HIV, which is why it’s a good idea to protect your health with PrEP.
Where can I get PrEP?
Nurx is committed to breaking down barriers to high-quality healthcare like PrEP. Nurx is the only platform that allows you to consult online with trusted medical providers to see if PrEP is right for you.
Just download the app or go online to chat with a licensed, nonjudgemental provider. You complete needed lab work, get a PrEP prescription, and have PrEP delivered straight to your door — all without stepping foot inside a clinic, lab, or pharmacy.
Once you’re on PrEP, you’ll need periodic testing. Nurx provides a convenient at-home HIV test to make testing hassle-free and private.
What does PrEP cost?
There are two FDA-approved PrEP medications: Truvada and Descovy. They aren’t cheap, running $2,000 or more out-of-pocket without insurance. Check to see if your insurance covers the prescription.
If not, or you’re uninsured, Nurx matches you with a payment assistance program. The vast majority of women getting PrEP via Nurx spend little to nothing for Truvada or Descovy each month.
Now you’re armed with knowledge, what are you gonna do next? Click here now to take charge of your health with the preventative HIV solution PrEP.
This blog provides information about telemedicine, health and related subjects. The blog content and any linked materials herein are not intended to be, and should not be construed as a substitute for, medical or healthcare advice, diagnosis or treatment. Any reader or person with a medical concern should consult with an appropriately-licensed physician or other healthcare provider. This blog is provided purely for informational purposes. The views expressed herein are not sponsored by and do not represent the opinions of Nurx™.