PrEP
About
PrEP stands for pre exposure prophylaxis, one of the methods one can use to avert the infection from HIV virus. It is a pill containing two active ingredients that prevent virus penetrating cells and multiplying there. This pill does not protect from other sexually transmitted diseases or pregnancy. General Medical Practice de Makroon offers the possibility for PrEP treatments.
Target group
PrEP is not suitable for everybody. Eligible are
- Men who (also) have sex with other men and trans genders who:
- In last six months have had anal sex without condom with the male sex partner whose HIV status is unknown or is HIV positive with detectable viral load
- In last six months were diagnosed with the rectal STD
- Were in last six months prescribed with PEP (post exposure prophylaxis)
- Migrants from the countries with high number of HIV infections
- Migrants in vulnerable situations
- Female commercial sex workers
- Women who desire pregnancy from HIV positive partner (only if previously agreed with that partner)
and who
- Are not infected with HIV virus
- Are highly exposed to HIV infection and want to protect themselves
- Have no kidneys dysfunction
- Do not use medicine which may interfere with PrEP
- Commit themselves to rigorous discipline concerning PrEP intake
- Commit themselves to frequent kidneys, STD and HIV tests
Preparations
Before you could start with PrEP treatment, you necessarily need to undergo several tests:
- HIV test in order to establish whether you are already infected
- Test to establish kidneys function
- Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C tests
- STD tests
The costs of these tests make part of the basic insurance obligatory deductible. You may decide to undergo only STD tests, which are always part of these regular checks, elsewhere, namely in the GGD policlinic.
GP will discuss the results of these test with you in a separate consultation and conclude whether you can undergo the treatment.
GP will discuss the results of these test with you in a separate consultation and conclude whether you can undergo the treatment.
The procedure
PrEP is in a pill form and there are two possible intake patterns – daily or intermittent (intake with interruption).
When you follow a daily pattern, you have to take one pill every day at exactly same time (e.g. every day at 7PM). In this case the intake becomes the routine and offers better protection to unpredicted exposure to HIV virus. In case of intermittent pattern, one pill needs to be taken maximal 24 up to minimum 2 hours prior to the possible HIV exposure, followed with one pill 24 hours and another one 48 hours after the first intake. In case of the repeated exposure, the pattern has to be continued every 24 hours, taking the last 2 pills always after last exposure.
GP will advise which of two intake patterns you need to follow. This consultation is not part of your obligatory deductible.
You are required to undergo different medical checks in the practice – one month and then three months after the start of the PrEP treatment and following regular checks every three months. The costs of the tests performed during these checks are part of basic insurance obligatory deductible. You may decide to undergo only STD tests, which are always part of these regular checks, elsewhere, namely in the GGD policlinic.