HIV Prep Clinic in Miami
A happier and stress-free life. In Miami, certified PREP HIV clinics and access to free HIV testing services have made these preventive options highly available and attainable for all.
What is PREP For HIV?
Short for Pre-exposure prophylaxis, PREP is a medicine used to reduce the risk of contracting HIV. It is given to HIV-negative people at high risk of getting HIV after a thorough review by qualified and certified doctors. The two common HIV PREP drugs are Truvada Prep and Descovy for Prep. They have proven effective in preventing the risks of HIV transmission whether through sexual contact or other means of transmission.
How Does PREP Prevent HIV
Generally, PREP works by blocking enzyme integrase, a protein HIV requires to make replicates of itself throughout your body. Once you start taking the drug, it builds up in your mucus membrane and bloodstream forming a protective layer around your cells, preventing the virus from establishing and protecting you from infection. That said, you must stick to the doctor’s prescription as irregular doses can prevent the PREP’s effectiveness in preventing HIV.
How to Get HIV PREP For Free
Besides HIV/AIDS, other sexually transmitted infections that could impact your health include:
- Chlamydia– It is a bacterial infection that affects any gender. It has no outward symptoms in the beginning but if not treated, it can lead to infertility.
- Crabs (pubic lice):These are small insects that attach to the hair or skin around the genital area. They can be easily eliminated with lotion or cream containing permethrin.
- Genital Herpes: It is a viral infection that causes sores around your genitals, rectum, thighs and buttocks.
- Genital Warts: This STI causes small growths and bumps (warts) to grow around your rectum and genital area.
- Gonorrhea: It is a bacterial STI that can affect your throat, genitals and rectum.
- Hepatitis B & C: They are blood-borne viral infections spread through sexual contact and primarily affect the liver
- HIV/AIDS: HIV is a virus that affects the body’s immune system. If not timely treated this infection can translate to AIDS which can be severe and life-threatening.
- HPV: Is a group of different related viruses that cause warts at various parts of your body including the skin and genitalia. In the worst cases, it can progress to cancer.
- Mycoplasma Genitalium (aka: Mgen): Mgen is a bacterial infection that can affect any gender. It can affect the urethra, cervix and rectum.
- Pelvic Inflammatory Disease: It is the inflammation of a woman’s fallopian tubes, uterus and ovaries due to an infection.
- STD rashes: People with sexually transmitted diseases can develop rashes anywhere in the body including the genitals, feet, soles, and palms.
- STD sores: These are small blisters, bumps or open sores known as ulcers that may appear as a result of an STI.
- Syphilis: It is an STI caused by a bacterium. Common symptoms include painless sores, fever, rash, and weight loss. If untreated, it can lead to serious health implications.
- Trichomoniasis: Is a parasite-caused STI. The parasite attaches to the skin or hair of the genitals and is transmitted upon contact.
PREP And HIV Testing
Your first consultation with an experienced infectious diseases specialist on sexual health and HIV will help determine whether HIV prep is right for you. But before you can start, it is important to take a HIV test. Remember to follow your HIV testing schedule as agreed with your doctor, throughout the PREP treatment. A good rule of thumb recommends that you visit the doctor every three months to ensure that you remain HIV-negative.
Can You Get HIV From Someone Who is on PREP?
No. You cannot contract HIV from someone following their HIV prep treatment as required- every time and on time. Ideally, they are HIV negative and following the HIV PREP plan further protects them from contracting the disease from someone else. However, HIV PREP guidelines recommend that PREP should be used alongside other protective measures such as condoms to further reduce the risks of infection.
What Happens if You Take PREP While HIV Positive?
PREP cannot and should not be used to treat HIV. Generally, PREP uses a combination of two ARV drugs while HIV-positive individuals require a combination of three antiretroviral medications for treatments. That said, using PREP leads to a sub-optimal HIV treatment translating to treatment failure and resistance to ARV medications.
Free HIV Testing and PREP Options in Miami
If you are looking for free PREP options in Miami, welcome to test4freehiv.com. Our goal is to help you understand your risks and develop a personalized prevention plan to keep you safe, healthy and worry-free. Our environment is professional, welcoming comforting and relaxing. Here, we will treat you with the respect and integrity that you deserve. We offer convenient and flexible scheduling, quality PREP treatment, HIV and STD testing and counselling. If you want to learn more, call us today at 844-705-8378 (TEST) and let us walk this journey together. You may also schedule your HIV PREP appointment online.
