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31 Days of PrEP

Myth or Truth: Can We Give Up Condoms?

Myth or Truth: Can We Give Up Condoms?

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Today's myth or truth: Does PrEP mean we can dispense with condoms?

trudestress

Editor's Note: There are, unfortunately, many myths going around about pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP -- the use of an antiretroviral drug by HIV-negative people to prevent them from being infected with HIV during sex. This month we'll look at one myth per day and offer evidence why it's not true.

Myth: We can all give up condoms now because we have PrEP.

Truth: Anyone who advocates this is being ridiculous. PrEP is an additional means of preventing HIV transmission, and part of the reason it's important is that people don't always use condoms correctly or consistently, that they sometimes break, and that sometimes it's difficult to negotiate condom use. But no reputable health expert or organization is advocating that people stop using condoms because we have another method. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends use of both methods and rightly so. Also, PrEP does not prevent the transmission of other sexually transmitted infections. In addition, some people may not be able to adhere to a daily pill schedule and find condom use a better method. Getting the word out about PrEP is not the same as telling people to cease using condoms.

trudestress
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Trudy Ring

Trudy Ring is The Advocate’s senior politics editor and copy chief. She has been a reporter and editor for daily newspapers and LGBTQ+ weeklies/monthlies, trade magazines, and reference books. She is a political junkie who thinks even the wonkiest details are fascinating, and she always loves to see political candidates who are groundbreaking in some way. She enjoys writing about other topics as well, including religion (she’s interested in what people believe and why), literature, theater, and film. Trudy is a proud “old movie weirdo” and loves the Hollywood films of the 1930s and ’40s above all others. Other interests include classic rock music (Bruce Springsteen rules!) and history. Oh, and she was a Jeopardy! contestant back in 1998 and won two games. Not up there with Amy Schneider, but Trudy still takes pride in this achievement.
Trudy Ring is The Advocate’s senior politics editor and copy chief. She has been a reporter and editor for daily newspapers and LGBTQ+ weeklies/monthlies, trade magazines, and reference books. She is a political junkie who thinks even the wonkiest details are fascinating, and she always loves to see political candidates who are groundbreaking in some way. She enjoys writing about other topics as well, including religion (she’s interested in what people believe and why), literature, theater, and film. Trudy is a proud “old movie weirdo” and loves the Hollywood films of the 1930s and ’40s above all others. Other interests include classic rock music (Bruce Springsteen rules!) and history. Oh, and she was a Jeopardy! contestant back in 1998 and won two games. Not up there with Amy Schneider, but Trudy still takes pride in this achievement.