PrEP for Women: Can Women Take PrEP?

PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) is a type of medication used to prevent HIV infection. Taking PrEP as prescribed can help you stay HIV-negative. However, some people might wonder whether cisgender women can take it. This article will clarify if PrEP is right for you.

Yes, Women Can Definitely Take PrEP!

Women can benefit from taking PrEP regardless of their sex or gender. In Thailand, women account for 41% of people living with HIV. If you are sexually active, we suggest consulting with a medical professional about how to manage your risk of contracting STIs.

How Effective is PrEP for Women?

Did you know that during vaginal sex, women on the receptive side are twice as likely to contract HIV compared to their partners? Taking PrEP daily can reduce this risk by more than 90%. However, PrEP may be much less effective if you don’t take it as prescribed (e.g., missing doses). Taking PrEP as prescribed is really important as you need a certain amount of medications in your system for PrEP to help block HIV. 

It is a myth that only gay men have anal sex. Some women also enjoy it too! It might be a safer way in terms of pregnancy, but a study found that being on the receptive side in anal sex is 18 times more likely to get an HIV infection. The intestinal lining is more delicate and more prone for injury, which makes it more likely to get infected. Then you might probably need PrEP for HIV prevention even if you do backdoor fun with your partners.

It's important to remember that PrEP is only for HIV prevention. You still have some risk of contracting other STIs if you’re having unprotected sex. This includes chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis, which are also more likely to infect people on the receptive side during vaginal sex. We suggest using PrEP along with other forms of STI prevention to ensure you’re as safe as possible.

There are also other STI prevention options that could help you stay safe from sexually transmitted infection. DoxyPEP is one of those options that help reduce the risk of getting bacterial infections that PrEP can’t, such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis. Though this option isn’t currently recommended for cis women, a new study found that it could also work in cis women. This is a good sign that this medication might be available for STI prevention in women once we have enough information on DoxyPEP for women.

Isn’t Condom Enough?

Condom is already a good option for STI prevention, but PrEP is far more effective in terms of HIV prevention. When used properly, PrEP can reduce the risk by more than 90%. PrEP also protects you from HIV infection through oral sex, which a lot of people don’t use condoms for. Condoms also have higher risk of failure compared to people taking PrEP daily. Using condoms with PrEP would give you a near perfect protection from HIV. Condom could be enough but there is no reason you shouldn’t look into other options that you could use together. In case the condom broke, people who have been using PrEP will have another layer of protection.

Other STIs might be manageable with the current, but we still don’t have a treatment that could cure HIV entirely. Condoms can make you feel safe, but PrEP can help you feel safer.

Can I Use PrEP with Contraception?

PrEP is completely safe to use with any kind of contraception. This means you can take PrEP while on birth control. The medications used for PrEP shouldn’t reduce the effectiveness of your birth control, so it’s safe to use both at the same time.

Who Should Be on PrEP?

PrEP is recommended only for people who do not currently have HIV, as this medication is intended solely for HIV prevention. If you are already HIV-positive or suspect that you may have been exposed to HIV, please consider seeking treatment options instead.

As a general rule of thumb, anyone who is sexually active may be prescribed PrEP. However, there are certain groups of people who may benefit more from PrEP, such as:

• If you have had sex in the past six months
• If you have sex with multiple partners
• If you have sex with a sexual partner who is HIV-positive
• If you have unprotected sex
• If you have a history of STDs in the past six months
• If you are a sex worker with multiple sexual partners

If you fall into any of the above categories, we suggest you contact medical professionals to evaluate your risk and help you develop a proper STI prevention plan. 

Don’t Be Shy About Going to the Doctor

There is no shame in being sexually active. Being on PrEP is socially responsible. PrEP not only helps protect you from HIV infection but also helps stop the spread of HIV. As PrEP becomes more accessible, the number of new HIV cases has dropped drastically. For example, consistent use of PrEP in Australia has led to a 79% reduction in new cases. We assure you that there is nothing wrong with being on PrEP or being sexually active. Being sexual is normal, but having an unnoticed infection is not!

We understand that many people might feel uncomfortable going to a doctor and discussing their sexual history. Having an appointment with a female doctor might help put your mind at ease. In that case, we suggest you visit PULSE Clinic, where we have female staff and doctors available to assist you. 

At PULSE, you can choose a specific doctor when making an online appointment or request a female doctor upon arrival at our clinic with our friendly receptionists. We will ensure your visit is as comfortable as possible. We are here to help, not to judge.

Regular Blood Tests is Important

To minimize the risk of complications and developing drug resistance, you will need to get blood tests regularly while on PrEP. This means that people on PrEP are more likely to detect and treat STIs earlier than those who aren’t getting regular blood tests. PULSE Clinic also offers a PCR28 test, a comprehensive test which covers 28 infections that are transmitted through sex. This can help you detect STIs early so you can get the right treatment as soon as possible!

Statistics from Thailand’s Department of Disease Control found that about 99% of people with HIV don’t know they have it. Other types of STIs usually don’t show symptoms, especially in women, so they often go unnoticed. These infections, untreated for too long, can cause complications and major health issues. Even if you are not interested in taking PrEP, it is recommended that you get tested regularly if you are sexually active.

Aside from taking PrEP for HIV prevention, there are a few common STIs in women that you should be aware of, such as:

• Chlamydia
• Gonorrhea
• Syphilis
• HPV
• Hepatitis B and C
• Genital Herpes

These STIs aren’t protected while being on PrEP alone, so you should discuss with your doctor about your STI prevention plan. Your doctor can help you evaluate your risks and give you advice on other STI options you should use. Not everyone has the same risks, so your plan might look a little bit different from other people.

Get STIs Under Your Control

Being on PrEP allows you to manage your risk of STIs, as it can reduce your risk of HIV infection by more than 90%. Other STI prevention strategies can protect you from infections related to sex, such as getting vaccinated for HPV, or using condoms. This can help you feel more confident about having sex without worrying about the risk of infection. Contact PULSE Clinic near you for more information and stay STI negative today!