Dr. David: My friend is on PrEP and has to go to his doctor every 3 months. Why? Got questions about PrEP? #AskTheHIVDoc has all the answers. So, in order to be on PrEP you have to be HIV negative, so getting you coming in every 3 months is a way to repeat the testing and making sure that everything is fine with that. Second thing is that we want to find out how you’re doing on the meds. How are you taking them? How do they work for you? Do you have any issues on them? That’s another important thing. Third is that when we talk about PrEP, we know that PrEP doesn’t protect you against things like syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, and those kind of other STIs, so we want to make sure we’re doing routine testing for that as well. And then finally, it gives you the opportunity to talk to your provider about your sexual health and about other concerns. One of the things about PrEP that has become very important is that it’s become a gateway for people getting access to healthcare. So if you are on PrEP and you go in every 3 months don’t look at it as a burden, look at it as a part of you empowering yourself while you’re on PrEP and also an opportunity to talk to your medical provider about other medical issues. So we’ll see you in 3 months.
If you take PrEP – the HIV prevention pill– it’s important to visit your healthcare provider every three months. In fact, most doctors require it!
Dr. David breaks down what happens at those appointments and how these visits can be an empowering way of staying on top of your health.
#AskTheHIVDoc is a video series from Greater Than HIV featuring top HIV doctors providing answers to commonly-asked questions about HIV prevention, testing and treatment.
This information is shared for educational purposes only 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 time of filming. Always consult a health care provider for any personal health decision.
While we make every effort to keep the medical information on our website updated, we cannot guarantee that the information reflects the most up-to-date research. Also, please note the views expressed by individuals who appear in Greater Than HIV videos and other content are their own and are not made on behalf of any groups/organizations/associations.
