3 Things to Know About HIV with Dr. Flash & Dr. Daskalakis

Transcript (Dr. Flash):

As an HIV doctor, here are some things I want you to know about HIV.

Number one. HIV can be controlled with treatment

Nowadays, we treat HIV with medications called antiretrovirals. Our goal is to get your viral load undetectable and to get your CD4 count, your immune system, as strong as possible.

Number two. HIV undetectable is untransmittable.

If you get your viral load to undetectable, and you keep it there, you cannot transmit HIV to your sexual partner.

Number three. PrEP prevents HIV.

PrEP is taken once daily on a regular basis to protect people who are at risk of getting HIV. It’s a game changer. So, whether or not that sexual partner decides to consistently use the condom, you know that you’re protected.

Transcript (Dr. Daskalakis):

I’m Dr. Demetre and I’m an HIV doctor and here are three things that I want people to know about HIV.

One. Knowledge is power. If you know your status, you can change the course of your health.

Two, there’s something called PrEP. Use pre-exposure prophylaxis to prevent HIV if you’re HIV negative.

And number three is U=U. Undetectable equals untransmittable. If you’re living with HIV and you take your HIV medicines, you actually improve your own health… and prevent transmitting HIV to the people that you love.