Saturday, December 16, 2017

Pornhub's Sexual Wellness Center

I've noticed a lot of the dating and hook-up sites for singles as well as the label online porn companies such as The PornHub Network (click on image below to be re-directed to page) offer lots of great information on STD, personal care and other topics pertaining to all area's of sex. This is a great thing. Hope people are utilizing these avenues to educate themselves. When we are informed, things aren't so scary!

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Wednesday, November 22, 2017

A post meant for inspiration for my fellow PLWH

PrEP - Information on Truvada

Before but especially now that the CDC backs up the fact that we who are undetectable can not pass on the HIV virus need to be educating the public on this. For those who have a constant come back of fear and ignorance direct them to the link above on PrEP. Let them know only people with their way of thinking pose a threat of passing on HIV as those of us with knowledge are aware that a combination of being undetectable along with PrEP and PEP can remain safely HIV-.
It's frustrating I know. And the fear of rejection is one that only some of us have to bear and it's not fair. Life isn't. But the sooner we all stand together and put our status out their for all to see we will then educate the public in mass and this epidemic will fade to past as it should have long ago.
Be strong. Do what's right and remember, when your thinking your situation is different or that you have more to lose, there are others who have it worse. I guess there is one person on earth who does have it the worst. Fine he gets a free pass... but the rest of us... Know your status. Be proud of it and you. State your status public. You'll feel better because of it. I promise.
:)
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Monday, November 20, 2017

HIV Criminalization and Human Ethics

I posted this on Facebook not too long ago.. maybe a few weeks now. I still strongly hold to this opinion. It's how I felt even when I was infected by someone who knew they were positive.

But I read about the guy in UK who intentionally infected 5 out of at least 10 people while also taunting them with antagonizing text messages after "oh... btw I'm HIV+ ...oops LOL" and of course I'm reminded how complex this niche of HIV activism can be. It's kind of why I focus on stigma. I don't want to appear wishy washy as far as my views go. Not that I ever sway back and forth but it's like abortion.. should be dealt with on a one by one basis and really there is no right answer. If only people would just act ethical at all times would be so much easier!

Sunday, November 19, 2017

Speak Up On Your HIV Issues with Your Doctor!

When Your HIV Regimen Makes You Sick, Speak Up

David Duran June 13, 2017

When I first began taking antiretroviral medication after being diagnosed, my body just didn't want to cooperate. Unfortunately, what I remember from my first year of being HIV positive was a lot of trial and error, which involved me being sick a lot. I was even hospitalized from one combination that, apparently, I was allergic to.

You may have heard about Truvada for PrEP?

You may have heard of TRUVADA for PrEP.

This website has information about how the medicine works and for whom the medicine is indicated. This information can help you and your healthcare provider make a decision about how to help reduce the risk of getting HIV-1 infection.

Find out more.

It must be used as part of an HIV prevention plan.

Just taking TRUVADA for PrEP every day may not keep you from getting HIV-1 infection. An HIV prevention plan includes safer sex practices and the correct use of condoms during any kind of sex.

What is safer sex?

TRUVADA for PrEP can help, but only if taken daily.

Studies show a strong link between taking TRUVADA for PrEP every day and how well the medicine works. Taking it as prescribed and using safer sex practices helps keep you protected.

TRUVADA for PrEP clinical studies.

Talk with your healthcare provider about your risk of getting HIV-1 infection.

Sharing information about your life can help your healthcare provider determine if you are at high risk of getting HIV-1 infection through sex. Your healthcare provider will also run tests to confirm you are HIV-negative. Do not take TRUVADA for PrEP if you already have HIV-1 infection or if you do not know your HIV-1 status.

Before you begin.

Your healthcare provider will monitor your HIV-1 status.

A relationship with your healthcare provider is important. You will need ongoing testing to be sure you stay HIV-negative. You must stay HIV-negative to keep taking TRUVADA for PrEP.

Get tested at least every 3 months or when your healthcare provider tells you.

On HIV Transmission: Undetectable Equals Untransmittable

Meaning if you are taking your medications and remaining undetectable even with unprotected sex you cannot give HIV to someone else. Remember... your not toxic! Although it's up to each person to protect themselves I know the pains of guilt and stress associated with being positive and the shit we deal with when meeting new people. Just take your medications as prescribed, see your doctor twice a year to ensure your staying undetectable and live your life!

Tuesday, October 10, 2017

21 FAQ's About HIV Transmission

1. Can a person with HIV who has an undetectable viral load transmit HIV?

No. A person living with HIV on antiretroviral therapy (ART) with an undetectable HIV viral load in their blood for at least six months has a negligible risk of transmitting HIV to a sexual partner. Negligible means: so small as to not be worth considering; insignificant. Therefore, HIV experts and health educators have described the transmission risk in public health communications as: "untransmittable", “no longer infectious”, "zero risk", "no infection risk", “do not transmit”, and “cannot transmit.”1, 30

2. What is an "undetectable viral load" and what is "viral load suppression"?

Viral load refers to the amount of HIV in a blood sample of a person living with HIV. Generally, the higher the viral load, the more likely you are to transmit HIV. Both "undetectable" and "viral load suppression" are extremely low measurements of HIV that are virtually the same. The terms are often used interchangeably in public health communications.

Undetectable viral load: ART can reduce a person’s viral load to the point where it is so low (usually under 40 copies/ml depending on the test) that it cannot be detected by measurements.2 This is called ‘having an ‘undetectable viral load,’ which prevents the sexual transmission of HIV while simultaneously improving the health of a person living with HIV.1 It does not fully clear the virus from the body or cure someone of HIV. Excellence adherence, or taking ART as prescribed, is important to maintain an undetectable viral load.

Viral load suppression: When ART suppresses a person's viral load to 200 copies/ml or less this is called being "virally suppressed." Being virally suppressed prevents the sexual transmission of HIV while simultaneously improving the health of a person living with HIV. 1 Studies show that when a person is virally suppressed they cannot transmit HIV to sexual partners. Excellence adherence, or taking ART as prescribed, is important to maintain viral suppression.

For the purposes of the U=U campaign, the term "undetectable" is used synonymously with the term "virally suppressed."

RISK OF SEXUAL TRANSMISSION OF HIV FROM A PERSON LIVING WITH HIV WHO HAS AN UNDETECTABLE VIRAL LOAD

Messaging Primer & Consensus Statement

There is now evidence-based confirmation that the risk of HIV transmission from a person living with HIV (PLHIV), who is on Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) and has achieved an undetectable viral load in their blood for at least 6 months is negligible to non-existent. (Negligible is defined as: so small or unimportant as to be not worth considering; insignificant.) While HIV is not always transmitted even with a detectable viral load, when the partner with HIV has an undetectable viral load this both protects their own health and prevents new HIV infections.[i]

However, the majority of PLHIV, medical providers and those potentially at risk of acquiring HIV are not aware of the extent to which successful treatment prevents HIV transmission.[ii] Much of the messaging about HIV transmission risk is based on outdated research and is influenced by agency or funding restraints and politics which perpetuate sex-negativity, HIV-related stigma and discrimination.

The consensus statement below, addressing HIV transmission risk from PLHIV who have an undetectable viral load, is endorsed by principal investigators from each of the leading studies that examined this issue. It is important that PLHIV, their intimate partners and their healthcare providers have accurate information about risks of sexual transmission of HIV from those successfully on ART.

At the same time, it is important to recognize that many PLHIV may not be in a position to reach an undetectable status because of factors limiting treatment access (e.g., inadequate health systems, poverty, racism, denial, stigma, discrimination, and criminalization), pre-existing ART treatment resulting in resistance or ART toxicities. Some may choose not to be treated or may not be ready to start treatment.

California finally took a step toward treating HIV as a social epidemic instead of treating those infected like we are criminals!

You can probably tell by the post headline I just typed above my thoughts on this matter but click to see mine and others on this controversial issue unfolding recently in California news. When it comes down to it, I just like seeing the subject discussed. The more it's talked about the more it's going to be in your heads and more importantly in the next generations heads. I hope and pray they are smarter with their health than we were ours.

Comment from discussion Intentionally Exposing Others to HIV no Longer a Felony in California.

Join my community @ HIV Newly Diagnosed

#SpeakOutHIV #HIVStigma #YourNotAlone

Educate people who don't know this.. it's newly out from the CDC but common knowledge for us that have been + and trying to get it through your heads!! WE ARE NOT TOXIC.

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Another great resource to get peer support and talk with others who know what your going through!

Click here to add me to your HIV team!!

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POZ Magazine Article - $80K Grant to Develop an Attack on HIV Hiding in Lymph Nodes

Although modern meds can reduce HIV to an undetectable level, latent virus still hides out in long-lived immune cells, unreachable by antiretrovirals. Finding ways to destroy this so-called viral reservoir is key to curing HIV. That’s why The Campbell Foundation, a nonprofit funding nontraditional HIV research, awarded an $80,000 grant to Kristine Yoder, PhD—she’s using CRISPR-based gene editing technology to target hidden HIV.

“CRISPR is a genome editing technique that damages DNA at sequence-specific sites. The most recently described and versatile genome editing system is called CRISPR/Cas9,” explained Yoder, an assistant professor of Cancer Biology and Genetics at The Ohio State University College of Medicine, in a Campbell press release. “Our specific aim is to develop a CRISPR/Cas9 gene therapy that introduces site-specific mutations which fundamentally incapacitate the integrated HIV-1 provirus in lymph node tissues.”

Kristine Yoder, PhD, of Ohio State University College of MedicineCourtesy of The Campbell Foundation

“HIV latency is akin to a ticking time bomb and continues to prevent a cure for HIV,” added Campbell Foundation executive director Ken Rapkin. “Genome editing is a powerful new tool that could inactivate the latent provirus (an integrated copy of the viral DNA in the human genome). New technologies to target and destroy latent HIV reservoirs are key to eradication and cure.”

CRISPR—which stands for Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats—acts as a sort of genetic scissors. Earlier this year, researchers reported that they had used CRISPR/Cas9 technology to successfully snip HIV from live mice, considered a milestone in the search for an HIV cure. For more on that, click here or read a collection of related POZ articled on #CRISPR.

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