Nursing Professors weigh in on reducing risk of contracting HIV:
BRIANA HEANEY NEWS EDITOR:
In 2012, the FDA approved a drug that would assist individuals in the prevention of the human immunodeficiency virus. Pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, is a drug that can reduce the risk of getting HIV via sex or via injection of drugs and needle sharing by 90 percent and 70 percent respectively. “What happens with HIV is that it kills your immune system so you have no methods to fight back, so you get these diseases that everybody else — their immune system will be, like, ‘Yeah, whatever’ — but [someone with HIV’s] immune system can’t fight it,” said Professor Cheryl Strahm of Nursing. PrEP opens up possibilities to protect oneself from these realities, she said. In addition to teaching, Strahm is active in outreach to persons who are at high risk of HIV. Christiania Stevens, a Meramec professor of obstetrics and gynecology, said, “PrEP is pre-exposure prophylaxis, and is a way for people who don’t have HIV that are at a substantial risk of HIV to help prevent themselves from getting it.” She warns that taking the medication alone is not one’s best bet to steering clear of HIV, though. “The best thing you can do is prevent exposure entirely,” said Stevens. “Antiviral drug therapy cannot replace behaviors that help avoid HIV exposure.” However, if individuals engage in risky sex then it’s a good idea to talk to a doctor or a medical professional about getting prescribed PrEP, she said. “There are so many people who don’t understand what they are doing is risky,” Strahm said. “You may not think you’re having risky sex; you may think your safe from HIV. But when you have sex with somebody, you are exposed to every person they have ever had sex with,” Strahm said. The majority of those who engage in risky sexual practices don’t believe or acknowledge that they are having risky sex, said Strahm. All sex is considered risky, unless it is within a committed monogamous relationship and in encounters where both partners are aware of each other’s sexual health status, said Strahm. “People just need to own up,” said Strahm. “It only takes one time.” HIV has to be passed via blood or a blood product, said Strahm. “Semen, especially, is a blood product, so there will be the HIV virus in the semen,” said Strahm. Without protection, any sexual activity runs the risk of one of the partners contracting HIV, said both Strahm and Stevens. Anal sex is the riskiest form because of the high level of exposure between blood and semen. “Particularly with anal intercourse, the rectal cavity is very, very vascular, so it’s the primary risk sexual practice for transmission,” said Strahm. “When you have anal intercourse, there is always some micro tearing and abrasion; always, there is no way to avoid that; it’s impossible not to have that, and semen especially is a blood product.” Once transmitted the HIV virus begins to take over the immune system and eventually turn into acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), said Strahm. “It’s not a death sentence anymore; however, it is something you will have to live with for the rest of your life,” said Strahm.
