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Let’s Talk About HIV Prevention

Oh, you don’t know me? I’m Dr. David. I’m here to talk to you about all things HIV and sexual health.

Undetectable equals untransmittable basically means that you cannot transmit HIV [sexually] to someone who is negative if you’re living with HIV and sustain a viral load of less than 200 copies on your medication.

PrEP is pre-exposure prophylaxis and involves either some kind of medications, whether it be a pill or injections that someone who is HIV negative can take in order to prevent getting HIV.

So, PEP is post-exposure prophylaxis. A lot of people have made the analogy, it’s kind of like a morning after pill. It’s somewhat like that. You have to start taking it within 72 hours or three days after the potential exposure and then you have to take it for four weeks straight and that is a pill a day. That’s the only option you have for post-exposure prophylaxis.

This video is a joint production of KFF’s GREATER THAN HIV and CDC’s LET’S STOP HIV TOGETHER. This information is shared for educational purposes and should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice. The views expressed are those of the featured medical professional and reflect information available to that professional at the time of filming.

Always consult a healthcare provider for any personal health decisions. The marks “CDC” and “Let’s Stop HIV Together” are owned by the US Dept. of Health and Human Services and are used with permission. Use of these logos is not an endorsement by HHS or CDC of any particular product, service, or enterprise.