Come out to Rollins College Wellness Center for free HIV and Hep C testing on Feb. 13th from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM!
Medical breakthroughs give us the opportunity to protect ourselves from sexually-transmitted infections like HIV. If youβre looking to protect yourself from HIV, we can help. Our Kissimmee HIV prevention clinic makes PrEP and other healthcare services accessible to everyone!Β
PrEP is an abbreviation for pre-exposure prophylaxis. Itβs a medication you can take to prevent HIV from taking hold in your body if you are having sex with someone who is HIV positive. PrEP is a great way to βprepβ your body to stay healthy.Β
Itβs good to know if you are at higher risk of contracting HIV so youβll know if PrEP is right for you. If you check any of these boxes, you should ask your healthcare provider about PrEP:
While these factors do not necessarily mean you will contract HIV without PrEP, they do increase your chances, so itβs best to have that discussion with your doctor to see if PrEP is right for your Kissimmee HIV prevention strategy.
When taken as prescribed, PrEP can reduce the risk of getting HIV from sex by about 99%. It also reduces the risk of getting HIV from injection drug use by about 74%.
If youβre looking for Kissimmee HIV prevention by using PrEP, you do need a prescription from a doctor. The good news is we have you covered at our Harmony Healthcare Orlando Kissimmee location. Our healthcare providers can prescribe PrEP for you if thatβs what you need.
Always follow your doctorβs instructions, but typically PrEP medication is taken once a day. PrEP can be taken indefinitely if that is what you and your doctor decide is best for you.
This is a question we get all the time and we find that cost is a common reason people donβt ask about medicines that they may need. If you have private medical insurance, PrEP will be covered, including deductibles and copays. Talk with your insurance provider for details.Β
Medicaid and Medicare are other options if you do not have private health insurance. These options typically come with a minimal copay for prescriptions. We are happy to help you figure out the best way to get the medicine you need.Β
Keep in mind that at Harmony Healthcare Orlando, we offer services and treatment at no cost to you, regardless of your insurance status or ability to pay. We believe that healthcare should be available and accessible to everyone.
Like many medications, you can experience side effects when taking PrEP. Side effects are usually mild and generally go away over time. Here are the most common:
If any side effects linger and become difficult to manage, contact your healthcare provider.
Long-term side effects from PrEP are not common but youβll need to talk to your doctor about any pre-existing conditions you have that could affect your health when taking any new medication. Taking PrEP for an extended period could affect your bone density, which is reversible. It can also affect your liver and kidney health.Β
We know that it can be difficult to talk to someone about your health. But we are here for you and want to answer all of your questions so that you are comfortable with your treatment decisions. Contact us today to discuss your Kissimmee HIV prevention options or if you have any other questions about your health.