As someone who has not been out that long, I have had this discussion with a number of guys -- young and old. When I was still in the closet and HIV/AIDS was raging through the country, the contraction of the disease meant a rather gruesome death. I know when I began engaging with Whitman-Walker Gay Men's Health in DC, in the early days of the disease, their office became not only the treatment center but also the funeral home for those dying. Regular morticians would not touch the bodies because of the fear of contracting the disease so WWHC was the option of last resort.
A few years later, the first of the anti-viral drugs came on the market but had horrendous side effects. In addition, it was a "cocktail" of a variety of medications which made it difficult to keep track of and painful to tolerate. The alternative of death was always nearby, particularly if the particular cocktail ceased being effective on persons who had contracted the disease.
Today, the medications are much better, require only a pill regimen and many feel the disease has either been "cured" or is about to be cured. I know there are several clinical vaccinations underway at NIH and a number of new medicines in testing that may promise a cure for the disease is on the horizon (after much more testing). The only problem I have with PReP is that people now think it is the "cure all" for HIV/AIDS. Take your pill on a daily basis and you'll never become positive. While the research shows this is quite likely -- even with people who are undetectable -- there is still not 100% effectiveness. And if you just happen to hit that 1 or 2% that it was not effective, you will become positive and there is not yet a cure for the disease.
PReP is almost free in DC between my health insurance and what the district pays to impact the contraction rate through subsidizing this drug. I would guess pretty much everyone I know is on or claims to be on PReP. The thing not talked about is it does not protect against Hep C (which is treatable but at an extremely high price -- not always covered by insurance) that is spreading in the gay community. It does not stop Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, warts, or other STI's that remain quite prevalent in many cities.
For people like me, coming out at an older age was such a relief. Fortunately the first guy I dated was HIV+ and very careful about sex and his medication. He taught me that just because I could no longer get someone pregnant, I could not throw away the condoms. He introduced me to WWMHC and the importance of being tested regularly. I remain (-) probably because of his excellent tutelage.
A few years later, the first of the anti-viral drugs came on the market but had horrendous side effects. In addition, it was a "cocktail" of a variety of medications which made it difficult to keep track of and painful to tolerate. The alternative of death was always nearby, particularly if the particular cocktail ceased being effective on persons who had contracted the disease.
Today, the medications are much better, require only a pill regimen and many feel the disease has either been "cured" or is about to be cured. I know there are several clinical vaccinations underway at NIH and a number of new medicines in testing that may promise a cure for the disease is on the horizon (after much more testing). The only problem I have with PReP is that people now think it is the "cure all" for HIV/AIDS. Take your pill on a daily basis and you'll never become positive. While the research shows this is quite likely -- even with people who are undetectable -- there is still not 100% effectiveness. And if you just happen to hit that 1 or 2% that it was not effective, you will become positive and there is not yet a cure for the disease.
PReP is almost free in DC between my health insurance and what the district pays to impact the contraction rate through subsidizing this drug. I would guess pretty much everyone I know is on or claims to be on PReP. The thing not talked about is it does not protect against Hep C (which is treatable but at an extremely high price -- not always covered by insurance) that is spreading in the gay community. It does not stop Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, warts, or other STI's that remain quite prevalent in many cities.
For people like me, coming out at an older age was such a relief. Fortunately the first guy I dated was HIV+ and very careful about sex and his medication. He taught me that just because I could no longer get someone pregnant, I could not throw away the condoms. He introduced me to WWMHC and the importance of being tested regularly. I remain (-) probably because of his excellent tutelage.
