I asked my former doctor 7 years ago for prep. He told me he was not familiar enough with this treatment and threw a lot of endocrinology and expensive DNA testing at me. Which I could not afford. At the time I had tested negative on two successive tests each 3 months apart. I wound up giving up on asking for prep. I did wind up testing positive two years later. (At the time I thought to myself It’s fine, I gave up on it.)

Recently after sharing my story with a friend this year (2024). I realized that he goes to the same doctor that I was going to. I asked My friend “did you ask the doctor for prep?” To which he said yes. I said so what’s up? My friend replies that he asked the doctor and the doctor’s response was “that he did not know anything about prep.” Which is a lie. Because I had gone through this scenario myself with this doctor. So my friend asked a second time about prep. And he got the same answer.

My question is 7 years later the same doctor still doesn’t know much about prep?

Could this be malpractice? If a patient asks more than once for prep isn’t the protocol now to test twice then prescribes?

At the very least it seems like negligence or some form of malpractice on the doctor’s behalf.

Is this a human rights violation? Can I call somewhere?

It would be very sad if my friend tests positive after trying to get prepped.

Any thoughts?

Hey guys! I am using daily prep since 1 month and I was feeling 2 times really bad this week. I came both days from library to home, felt extremely exhausted, had headache and felt really cold, and felt like having fever (in reality there were no high fever). Both times, waking up with a really bad hungover headache (Today I took 2 Advil). I also noticed that I sweated a lot. I am thinking that the water consumption in library also effected that. Since it is a special library, no liquids are allowed and my water consumption is less than usual.

Did you guys had this kind of symptoms? I was feeling kind of ok for the first time but now with the second time I am a bit worried.

I heard truvada can make you lose weight? I’ve switched up my routine in the gym and I’ve noticed my butt getting smaller the last month. Might be the new routine but I have lots a good 5 lbs.

Should I switch to descovy?

I have been taking PrEP daily since July of last year, although I would estimate that I miss around 4 or 5 doses in a given month.

Two weeks ago, I had receptive anal sex without protection on two different occasions. Friday (4/19), I bottomed and the top came inside me twice. Last Monday (4/22), I had another unprotected receptive anal sex, although the top did not cum inside me. On both occasions, I cleaned as much as I could afterwards (it stung so I couldn't clean as plenty times as I wanted, or get enough water inside 'til my stomach hurts), but I think there may have been residue of semen when I defacated the following day.

I also have a tendency to bleed during anal sex, so there was a little bit of blood on both occasions that I was fucked bare two weeks ago. I also was taking PrEP daily prior to both instances of sex, but I wasn't able to take on Thursday and Friday (three days after my last penetrative sex).

Now, I'm feeling a little bit under the weather, with phlegmatic cough, and a bit of a sore throat (usually just after waking up so it might just be dry). I'm feeling a bit anxious now because I don't really have penetrative sex that much.

Is there a higher risk of transmission if I wasn't able to wash out all the semen inside me until the next time I defacate?

I’ve been on prep for 3 weeks now and I’ve experienced some intense fatigue and body aches since starting. I’ve barely left my house and just take naps all day. Body aches are generalized and mild, but still noticeable enough to be uncomfortable. Did anyone else experience this when starting PrEP? Is it normal to experience this almost a month after starting?

I have been taking truvada for about a month but it killed my stomach and have been on descovy for a few days now (much better).

We routinely see the numbers for the risk of HIV for a top and a bottom unprotected without PrEP. Does anyone know the numbers for a top on PrEP encountering HIV?

Example: 1 in 1000, 2000, etc

I very much appreciate it!

Hi I live in California and want to get back on PreP after going off last year. What are my best options without insurance?

For context I got mono and strep roughly 2 weeks ago and was feeling pretty bad. I got a prescription for an antibiotic to get rid of the strep and a steroid to get rid of the swelling in my throat. I was also told to take advil to manage pain, so I stopped taking prep for about a week. In that time I started feeling much better and I finished both of my prescriptions, and decided that I should probably start taking prep again. However the day that I started to take it again, I started to feel sick, and symptoms like constantly being tired returned.

Has anyone else had similar expieriences with PrEP and mono, or have any advice?

I started taking descovy 2-3 weeks ago. I’ve been feeling well so far. But yesterday I got randomly sick. I read I can’t take ibuprofen, naproxen, diclofenac.

Do you guys substitute the medications? Stop taking prep? Plz and thank you

Not sure if my body is absorbing sufficient dose, afraid that the mild diarrhea might affect the efficacy of the meds.

I’ve been taking prep for over a month and normally take the pill at 10pm. I went out with friends and forgot tot take the pill until 8am and had unprotected sex.

Am I at risk for HIV by being late 10/12 hours?

Anyone use the Co pay program through Gilead? My insurance only covers Truvada but a friend was telling me about the Copay program. Anyone else have experience with this?

Bottom here. I recently started taking PrEP, DoxyPEP and barebacking not long ago. I was always health conscious about HIV/STI/D so, I would play it safe by wearing condom. Now, I’ve been taking PrEP every single day.

How do I prepare for a bareback? Do I do PrEP on demand (2-1-1)

How long do I wait after taking PrEP before start having sex?

Can someone please kindly explain to me how or when should I take it before barebacking? I’m still a little anxious and confused about this.

Thank you in advance.

The person said he was negative but assuming he was lying or he wasn’t would 6 days be enough. I don’t believe I had any cuts in my mouth but my gums were kinda sore. Would I be at risk or is 6 days enough for protection?

I forgot to take my pill yesterday, but today I took my pill like always at the same time. My question is, do I need to start over and count 7 days? For prep to be effective against HIV? Or no?

But potential partner refuses to discuss his status. He knows I'm on PrEP.

I need help navigating this.

I (male) am taking prep with the 2-1-1 on-demand mode. Yesterday I took two prep pills, waited two hours and had sex. Today, however, I took the pill two hours late. I feel like an idiot and feel anxious. I was the bottom and he went in twice without a condom (no ejaculation) before I asked him to put a condom on. Luckily, he told me he had his last blood test last month and he was also on prep (but I can't verify that). Should I calm down and realize that I am overreacting? Or is there an actual danger? Any advice?

I recently started taking it and I’ve heard that this is one of the risks. I’m aware that it’s rare but I have seen some cases online where people got it. Is this something that I should be concerned about or is it not something that generally happens?

I just noticed my BCBS is denying my prescription from Mister. Has anyone else has this problem? I’m planning on calling my insurance company Monday to see what’s up but was wondering if anyone here has experienced the same and what they ended up doing to get prep. Thank you!

Hi,

So after a long time of being off PrEP I have decided to get back on it but the shot version this time.

My new doctor told me the issues with bone strength loss that are present in the pill form aren't in the shot form.

I wanted a second opinion and wanted to know if y'all had heard the same from your doctors. I have a leg surgery I want to get soon and it is really important to me that I don't do anything to add more stress than needed on my healing legs when I get it.

I’ve been taking prep for about 3 weeks at 10pm before bed and never miss a dosage. Last night I forgot to take the pill at 10pm so I took it when I woke up at 8am.

Have I know effected my coverage at all?

I was on PEP for 30 days. Got tested and came back negative. Now I’m on day 8 of taking PREP only. My question is, can I top or bottom now having raw sex? Or is there more of a risk to bottom and receive loads?

Hi guys,

I'm sure you get this everyday and I'm sorry, but have got to ask as anxiety is too much to handle.
Been on PrEP now for 17 days, I take it every morning. However due to my work sometimes I start early, and sometimes later so I sleep in. My very first pill that I took was at 8am, since then I've been taking it 9-9:30, 10:30 and latest 11:30, always in the morning still and always with food.

On my 10th day of PrEP, I met up with someone and just did oral. He sucked me off, made me cum, I ate his ass and sucked him for a bit and then a lot of kissing, humping etc.

3 days later, I ended up meeting up with someone else, but had sex. I topped and came in him twice. This guy is on PrEP, showed me his medication and basically told me every time you have to take it, basically all the information I already knew about it, I didn't tell him I was on PrEP but after hearing he was I felt not as anxious.

Should I be concerned about HIV? and also does taking PrEP at different hours like 10am, then 9am, then 11am impact it's effectiveness? I waited 10 days before engaging with anyone, but have never not taken a pill.
Apologies for this but really don't have anyone else to go, and new to the whole hookup world.
Thank you

I haven't taken a HIV test for a while and have one on the way in the mail. I took prep on demand also the first time in about six months from Friday (x2) to Sunday for a sexual encounter that didn't happen.

Would taking Prep over that period void a HIV test at all? If so, how long should I wait before taking it?

If it makes any difference it's one of the Oraquick oral saliva tests rather than a blood sample.

Title. I’ll spare the typical story of having a moment where I had unprotected anal sex(I was receptive) with someone I recently met yesterday. I called my nearest emergency room to see if they had PEP and they do, but I also know the planned parenthood nearby has it as well. I also believe PEP is available at some CVS locations too. I want to know which is the best to receive PEP at absolutely no out of pocket cost to me(mostly speaking on the visit costs portions as I have health insurance that’ll likely cover it ).

Update: got it from Planned Parenthood and they extremely nice and informative (obviously) on everything and was all covered. I’d recommend instead of just being handed pills and such by a cvs minute clinic 👋

Hi, i took an on demand dose (2 pills) of PrEP and then had an unprotected intercourse 1h and 10 min later, lasted 1 hour but without ejaculation. I read that emtriciabine gets into our rectal tissue in 30 minutes. Should I be worried that it wasn't 2 hours before?

Hello everyone I started daily since yesterday but I think I will bottom tomorrow, would it be a problem if I take 2 pills instead of one and continue as normal daily regime? In my understanding I need 7 days of daily before bottoming for best protection.