LET’S TALK ABOUT PrEP
Sex is a part of life, but too often shame and silence keep us from having real conversations about our sexual health. That stigma is powerful and can stop us from learning about tools that can help protect us from HIV –– tools like PrEP, condoms, and regular testing.
LET’S TALK ABOUT PrEP
All images are model portrayals
WHAT IS PrEP?
PrEP stands for pre-exposure prophylaxis. That means routinely taking prescription medicine before you're exposed to HIV to help reduce your chances of getting it. When taken as directed, PrEP can be about 99% effective in preventing HIV through sex.
Just remember PrEP doesn't protect against other STIs (sexually transmitted infections), so make sure to use condoms and other healthy sex practices.
Talk to your healthcare provider to learn if PrEP may be right for you.
PrEP WORKS. BUT WE’VE BEEN LEFT OUT
We face many barriers –– racial bias, medical mistrust, and healthcare systems that weren't built with us in mind. It's time to change that. It's time to learn the facts about how HIV impacts our community so we can take action, because when we center culture, care becomes possible.
NOT “THEIR” ISSUE, OUR ISSUE
We often think HIV impacts everyone else, but the numbers tell a different story. But even within our community, the impact isn't the same –– some parts of our community are hit harder than others. That’s why caring for ourselves is community care. When we protect our health, we help protect our people.
In 2023, Black people made up 39% of people living with HIV, despite being only 12% of the U.S. population. Black people were diagnosed with HIV at a rate about 7 times higher than White Americans.
Black women accounted for half of all new HIV diagnoses among women, despite only making up 13% of women in the U.S. population (2022).
Men who have sex with men make up 66% of all new HIV diagnoses in the U.S. (2023).
NOT SOMEWHERE ELSE. IT’S RIGHT HERE.
This isn't just a community issue, this is a neighborhood issue too. HIV hits hard in places where our communities thrive. Here's a closer look at how HIV shows up in some key Black cities in the Mid-Atlantic and Southern regions.
MIAMI
Black people make up a small part of Miami's population (15%), yet were nearly 37% of all HIV cases in the city (2023).
ATLANTA
Black people are just a third of Atlanta’s population, but they represent almost 70% of new HIV diagnoses (2023).
D.C.
In D.C. Black people account for 40.9% of the population and 75.7% of new HIV diagnoses (2022).
CURIOUS WHAT THINGS LOOK LIKE CLOSE TO HOME?
CLICK HERE TO SEE HIV DATA FOR YOUR ZIP CODESTILL THINK THIS ISN’T ABOUT YOU?
It's easy to think PrEP is not for you, but it might be. These common myths keep too many of us from learning about a tool that could help protect us from HIV. Let's set the record straight on a few things.
MYTH
PrEP IS ONLY FOR GAY PEOPLE
SEE FACT
FACT
HIV doesn't discriminate by age, gender, or sexual orientation. Anyone who has sex can get HIV. As a matter of fact, 22% of new HIV cases in the U.S. in 2022 were among heterosexual men and women. Source
BACK
MYTH
I DON’T HAVE ENOUGH SEX TO CONSIDER PrEP
SEE FACT
FACT
It doesn’t matter how often you have sex; it only takes one time. And if you’ve ever had an STI, know that HIV is one, too. That’s why the CDC recommends that anyone who is sexually active learns about PrEP as an option for HIV prevention. PrEP doesn't protect against other STIs.
BACK
MYTH
PrEP IS ONLY FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE LOTS OF PARTNERS
SEE FACT
FACT
Single, partnered, or figuring things out, PrEP is there to help reduce your chances of getting HIV through sex, no matter your relationship status.
BACK
MYTH
I’M NOT HAVING RISKY SEX, I ONLY HAVE SEX WITH “CLEAN” PEOPLE
SEE FACT
FACT
It’s not about who you’re sleeping with, it’s about you. You can’t control anyone else’s choices, but you can choose to help protect your own health. Caring for your sexual health is about looking out for yourself first.
BACK
READY TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP?
It starts with getting tested and talking with a healthcare provider. Don't have one?
CLICK HERE TO FIND PrEP PROVIDERS NEAR YOU