Frequently Asked Questions

• You have more than one sex partner
• You have sex with someone who has had many partners
• You don’t use a condom when having sex
• You share needles when injecting intravenous drugs
• You trade sex for money or drugs

• have ever injected drugs, even if it was just once or many years ago
• received donated blood or organs before 1992
• have certain medical conditions, such HIV or AIDS
• have been exposed to blood from a person who has Hep C
• are healthcare workers exposed to a needle prick
• were born to a mother with Hep C
• were born from 1945 – 1965

• STDs include just about every kind of infection. Bacterial STDs include chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis. Viral STDs include HIV, genital herpes, genital warts (HPV), and hepatitis B. Trichomoniasis is caused by a parasite.
• The germs that cause STDs hide in semen, blood, vaginal secretions, and sometimes saliva. Most of the organisms are spread by vaginal, anal, or oral sex, but some, such as those that cause genital herpes and genital warts, may be spread through skin contact. You can get hepatitis B by sharing personal items, such as toothbrushes or razors, with someone who has it.

Answer: Rapid HIV tests, which involves a finger prick, can produce results within 30 minutes. If positive, a second test is required to confirm and usually takes a few days to a few weeks to get results.

Answer: Recent medical breakthroughs have created a revolution in the treatment for Hep C. Today, the most common treatment for Hep C is to simply take a pill daily, at home, for as little as two months. This regiment is much simpler than the past treatments that included ongoing injections of Interferon (a drug that has chemo-like side effects).

Yes. PrEP (Pre-exposure prophylaxis) is effective for people at very high risk for HIV. PrEP is taken daily to lower the chances of getting infected. PrEP can stop HIV from taking hold and spreading throughout your body. It is highly effective for preventing HIV if used as prescribed, but it is much less effective when not taken consistently.

For most people, PrEP is inexpensive or even free. The amount you pay for PrEP will depend on whether you have health insurance and the specifics of your insurance plan. Even if you don’t have health insurance, there are opportunities through Medicaid, Gilead (which makes PrEP), and other agencies to get you PrEP at a reduced cost or no cost at all. We have staff who can help you figure out how to get started with PrEP in the most affordable way.

No, PrEP is an additional level of protection against HIV. The FDA recommends that you use condoms to maximize your protection against HIV and other STIs. However, PrEP can help lower your risk of contracting HIV even in situations where you don’t use a condom. PrEP , However, does not protect you against other STIs, such as syphilis and Hepatitis C.

PrEP is a prevention option that includes taking a pill once a day. Truvada for PrEP, can cause side effects like nausea in some people, but these generally subside over time. If you are on the PrEP program, tell your healthcare provider about any side effects that are severe or do not go away. Visit Truvada.com for safety information about Truvada: http://www.truvada.com/patients

Most people who take Truvada for PrEP do not experience any side effects. Studies have found that the most common side effects are headache, gastrointestinal problems — including abdominal pain and nausea — and weight loss. They tend to fade after a month and are mostly minor. Rarely, more serious side effects have been reported, including a small decrease (1%) in bone density, as well as renal failure and kidney problems. All of these potential side effects should be monitored regularly by your doctor while you are on the PrEP program, and the side effects have been shown to stop once Truvada for PrEP is discontinued. Talk with your doctor about potential side effects and how to minimize them. Visit Truvada.com for safety information about Truvada for PrEP: http://www.truvada.com/patients

Right here, in Yonkers at the Hope Center. It only requires a blood or oral fluid sample. If you take a rapid HIV test you may be able to wait for the results. If you take an anonymous test, no one but you will know the result. If you take a confidential test, your test result will be part of your medical record, but it is still protected by state and federal privacy laws. A counselor at the Hope Center will discuss your options with you.

It is important to discuss your current medications with the doctor at your appointment.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention is an excellent resource for HIV and PrEP information

https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/basics/prep.html

The doctors and healthcare providers of The HOPE Center welcome and provide the same excellent care to all patients. The HOPE Center does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, gender, age, veteran status, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status or disability.