From September 1, 2019, people in Germany aged 16 and over who are at high risk of contracting HIV are entitled to PrEP prophylactic medication.
1) How it works
Many people living with HIV are unaware of their status. This places some of the responsibility for prevention on those who are HIV-negative.
By taking PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis), people at risk can prevent contracting the disease. Similar to the birth control pill, PrEP is a pill that must be taken every day.
The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infects cells of the immune system, impairing or destroying their function.
2) It is effective
Like birth control pills, the effectiveness of PrEP depends on the user's adherence to taking it. PrEP is almost 100% effective for people who take it as directed. Women, in particular, must take PrEP every day for it to be effective in preventing HIV.
A recent study found that if only a quarter of men who have same-sex relationships and are at high risk of contracting HIV (i.e., do not use condoms) used PrEP, 30% of new infections could be prevented, and according to researchers at San Francisco State University, sexual transmission of HIV could be reduced by 96% if PrEP were widely used.
3) It is underutilized
Lack of awareness, healthcare funding, and understanding, along with high costs and social stigma, present barriers to the adoption of the drug worldwide. Studies have also found that biases held by some healthcare providers toward patients create a barrier to prescribing the drug.
4) It is safe
PrEP has been shown to be as safe as aspirin, with similarly low rates of serious side effects for the painkiller.
A study conducted in South Africa in 2017 also analyzed the use of PrEP in sexually active adolescents and found it to be safe.
5) It does not protect against other STIs
PrEP users are still at risk of contracting other sexually transmitted infections such as herpes, chlamydia, gonorrhea, or syphilis if they do not use condoms.
From: https://www.dw.com/en/5-things-to-know-about-prep-the-hiv-prevention-pill/a-