When it comes to sexual health, it’s important to remember to “PrEP now, play later.” Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is medication (shots or pills) that can reduce the chance of getting human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) from sex or injection drug use.
“Linn County Public Health wants our residents to know that PrEP is for every body, regardless of sexual orientation, gender, sexual activity, or other factors,” said Dr. Pramod Dwivedi, Linn County Public Health Director. “This type of medication can be highly effective at preventing HIV when taken as prescribed.”
If you are sexually active, then PrEP is for you. To get started, talk with your healthcare provider or call the Linn County Public Health clinic at 319-892-6093 to determine what is best for you. Most insurance plans and state Medicaid programs cover the cost of PrEP.
PrEP Iowa and Iowa TelePrEP gives you access to PrEP in Iowa, no matter where you are. Through this service, you can visit with a provider, obtain appropriate lab testing services, and receive medication that can be mailed directly to your home or picked up at a pharmacy of your choice.
For individuals who may be at risk of contracting HIV, such as those who are sexually active or inject drugs, you can determine your HIV risk by using the CDC’s HIV Risk Reduction Tool. This tool determines your risk of getting the virus, as well as steps you can take for reducing your risk.
Additionally, it’s important to not forget to know your status by regularly getting tested for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), if you are sexually active. This is critically important as the most common STI symptom is no symptoms at all. You can get tested for STIs at your healthcare provider’s office, Linn County Public Health, or in your own home with an at-home STI test kit. At-home STI test kits can be requested online and mailed to you or you can pick one up at select local pharmacies or Linn County Public Health.
PrEP Now, Play Later: Linn County encourages health measures as PrEP aware week
November 2, 2023