Even though the drug can prevent people from getting HIV, it’s important to keep in mind that there are other things that can keep you healthy and prevent you from getting infected with HIV or other STI’s. The Center for Disease Control recommends the following:
- Get tested and know your partner’s HIV status. Talk to your partner about HIV testing and get tested before you have sex.
- Have less risky sex. Oral sex is much less risky than anal or vaginal sex. Anal sex is the most risky type of sex for the spread of HIV.
- Use condoms. Use a condom every time you have vaginal, anal, or oral sex.
- Limit your number of sexual partners. If you have more than one sexual partner, get tested for HIV regularly. Get tested and treated for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and insist that your partners do, too. Having an STI can increase your risk of becoming infected with HIV.
- Talk to your health care provider about pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). PrEP is an HIV prevention method that involves taking an HIV medicine every day. PrEP is intended for people who don’t have HIV but who are at high risk of sexually transmitted HIV infection. PrEP should always be combined with other prevention methods, including condom use.
- Don’t inject drugs. But if you do, use only sterile drug injection equipment and water and never share your equipment with others.
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