In the United States, Truvada (a combination of two antiretroviral drugs indicated for the treatment of adults infected with HIV) has been authorized, since 2012, to be prescribed as a preventive measure within the framework of certain prevention policies. But the US Center for Disease and Infection Control (CDC) would like to expand preventive use of the drug to all at-risk groups. The health authorities primarily target four groups: gay men who have sex without a condom, heterosexuals with high-risk partners, people who have sex with partners known to be HIV-positive, and those who inject drugs. .
Treatment in addition to other prevention methods
On his website, the CDC gets straight to the point: “If you think you are at risk for contracting HIV, ask your doctor if this antiretroviral is not contraindicated for you. In addition to other prevention methods, such as condoms, this medicine may provide good protection against HIV if it is taken every day. If you are exposed to the AIDS virus during sex or by injecting drugs, these antiretrovirals may prevent the virus from entering your body. “
Several prophylaxis studies have shown that the use of antiretrovitals as a preventive measure reduces the risk of becoming infected with HIV by 92%. According to the CDC, up to 500,000 Americans could benefit from this preventive treatment, compared to 10,000 currently. This revented use of Truvada would make it possible to lower the curve of HIV infections, which has not changed for 20 years, despite all the campaigns in favor of the use of condoms.
But, as the CDC points out, the best way to protect yourself from AIDS during sex is The preservative.