Make The Change For Yourself

I used to loathe the thought of taking a pill every day for the rest of my life, and I would hate taking my vitamins. I was hesitant only because my parents would tell me not to take medications growing up. It was only due to ignorance and stigma. They would tell me to try to use home remedies, as I come from a conservative, Mexican, catholic household.

Getting educated through AHF made me more comfortable to take PrEP, and now, I take PrEP daily. I started taking it after my first known sexual encounter with someone who was living with HIV and undetectable. I do my best to keep a very small group of sexual partners (1-2), so I can easily communicate if there is an infection. In the future, I can stop taking it for a period of time if I decide to become abstinent.

I get tested every 3 months as part of my PrEP care routine. Broward House offers free testing, which makes getting tested regularly convenient. You don’t have to make an appointment, so I can just walk right in. I get free condoms and education on HIV prevention too.

To me, being on PrEP eliminates the stress or fear when I’m waiting for my HIV test results. I would recommend for someone to get educated on PrEP so that they can feel comfortable taking it. Take the first step and speak with your medical provider about it! You have nothing to fear!