By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    medicare part d benefits
    Everything that You Need to Know About Medicare Part D
    August 15, 2022
    Best Ways to Boost Your Immune System this Winter
    Best Ways to Boost Your Immune System this Winter
    November 15, 2022
    back pain issues
    Ways to Treat Constant Back Pain
    August 21, 2023
    Latest News
    How Probate Planning Shapes the Future of Your Estate and Family Care
    July 17, 2025
    Beyond Nutrition: Everyday Foods That Support Whole-Body Health
    June 15, 2025
    The Wide-Ranging Benefits of Magnesium Supplements
    June 11, 2025
    The Best Home Remedies for Migraines
    June 5, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    More On Wellness Programs To Improve Health and Reduce Costs
    January 25, 2012
    Privatizing Social Security and Medicare: Who Can Defuse Political Dynamite?
    June 12, 2011
    Study: Risk of Death in Elderly Patients with Dementia Doubled with Some Antipsychotic Medications
    February 26, 2012
    Latest News
    How IT and Marketing Teams Can Collaborate to Protect Patient Trust
    July 17, 2025
    How Health Choices and Legal Actions Intersect After an Injury
    July 17, 2025
    How communities and healthcare providers can address slip and fall injuries with legal awareness
    July 17, 2025
    Let Your Lawyer Handle the Work Before You Pay Medical Costs
    July 6, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: How PrEP works to help prevent the spread of HIV
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Specialties > How PrEP works to help prevent the spread of HIV
Specialties

How PrEP works to help prevent the spread of HIV

Kristel Staci
Kristel Staci
Share
5 Min Read
spread of HIV
Photo 171396805 © Pichai Pipatkuldilok | Dreamstime.com
SHARE

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (commonly called PrEP) is a prescription medication taken to prevent getting HIV. Individuals at high risk of contracting HIV use this drug daily, offering a substantial level of protection against the virus when taken as directed. This medication can reduce the risk of contracting HIV from injection drug use by approximately 74% and sexual activity by 99%.

Contents
How PrEP protects against HIVWhere did HIV originate?How PrEP Prevents Spread of HIVHow much do these medications cost?How to Start Taking PrEP

How PrEP protects against HIV

To understand how PrEP protects the body from HIV, it’s critical to know how the virus spreads from person to person. HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus, two Lentiviruses that infect humans. Without treatment, the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome progresses to a failure, which provides life-threatening opportunistic infections, cancers, and diseases to thrive within the body. There is no cure for HIV once the body is a carrier; there’s only management of the symptoms and controlling measures in place to stay as healthy as possible.

Where did HIV originate?

The HIV infection originated from a type of chimpanzee in Central Africa. The virus likely passed to humans when hunting the animal, and they encountered infected chimpanzee blood. HIV works by attacking a specific type of immune system cell within the body. These cells are called CD4 helper cells or T cells for short. Once HIV destroys this cell, the body struggles to fight off other infections, leaving the host struggling with minor illnesses or viruses. HIV also uses CD4 cells to replicate copies of the virus. The virus’s replication machinery causes the cell to swell and burst, destroying it in the process of spreading. HIV can progress to AIDS if left untreated, where an individual’s CD4 count drops below 200. Many advancements in treatment ensure people living with HIV live longer, healthier lives.

How PrEP Prevents Spread of HIV

PrEp works by protecting CD4 cells with a fortified barrier around the cell. The medication is taken daily to improve concentrations of these barriers in localized regions of the body. These areas include tissues within the body that may contact HIV, including genital or anal areas. These fortified walls keep HIV from crossing into healthy cells and prevent replication should HIV pass the barrier.

More Read

Yale Spinoff Licenses HER3 Cancer Drug from MedImmune
It’s 2019 And The Science Of Skincare Is More Popular Than Ever
Top 10 General Dental Procedures and How They Work
Prostate Cancer Awareness: Detection and Treatment
When Should You Consider Getting Neurological Care At Home?

PrEP does require time to build up adequate concentrations of the medication. For sexual exposure, an individual needs seven consecutive days of PrEP to achieve 99% efficiency. Failing to take this drug properly will reduce the level of protection. Alternatively, individuals engaging in injection drug use will need 21 days to build up proper concentrations of PrEP for optimal protection. PrEP is less effective against transmission by injection, sitting at 74% efficiency.

How much do these medications cost?

When PrEP first became available, the costs were over $1,000 a month. As more medications become available, including generic brands, PrEP costs have significantly decreased. The drugs run approximately $250 and $980 a month without coverage, depending on the province or territory. Individuals with private insurance should ask their carriers if personal coverage is available. 

How to Start Taking PrEP

PrEP is currently only available by prescription. If you’re interested in starting this medication, schedule an appointment with your doctor or medical professional. Your practitioner will talk to you about any risk factors you currently have, including a sexual health history. It’s important to tell your doctor about any unprotected sexual encounters, partners, and drug use you might have. If you’ve ever used PEP, you may qualify for PrEP.

Anyone wanting to take this medication will need to have an HIV test before starting. Only HIV-negative people qualify for this treatment, as HIV-positive people may build a resistance to anti-HIV drugs used to treat the virus by taking PrEP. While taking PrEP, you’ll need to stay in close contact with your doctor. Individuals need ongoing monitoring and testing while taking the medication, including HIV testing. Most doctors require STI testing and blood work every three months while taking PrEP to ensure your body is handling the drug efficiently.

Most people experience little to no side effects while taking PrEP. Any side effects from this medication are often temporary and minor. Most of these effects will resolve within a few weeks of starting PrEP, including gastrointestinal upset and headaches.

TAGGED:prevent the spread of HIV
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

Grounded Healing: A Natural Ally for Sustainable Healthcare Systems
How IT and Marketing Teams Can Collaborate to Protect Patient Trust
Global Healthcare Policy & Law
July 17, 2025
paramedics in surgical gloves and masks
How Health Choices and Legal Actions Intersect After an Injury
Health care
July 16, 2025
a woman giving a key
How Probate Planning Shapes the Future of Your Estate and Family Care
Health
July 16, 2025
a woman with kinesio tapes on her back arm
How communities and healthcare providers can address slip and fall injuries with legal awareness
Health care
July 16, 2025

You Might also Like

Mental HealthSpecialties

Facing The Same Stress Of The Pandemic: Why People React Differently

August 11, 2020

Sinai Hospital and Operation Walk Maryland Bring Hope to Haitian Patient with Osteonecrosis

December 13, 2012

Stem Cells Extracted from Fat Save Patient from Amputation – Video

August 29, 2011
dental x-rays
Dental healthSpecialties

Understanding The Role Of Dental X-Rays In Early Diagnosis

October 14, 2024
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?