reading more about Truvada ...
Now that I've decided to require casual sex partners to use condoms even if I go on Prep, I'm reading more about it to decide whether I should start taking it now.
The price is ridiculous -- $21,000 per year. I'd pay only $360 of that, but still. Compared to the cost of condoms and gloves ... it's a large tribute to our capitalist health care system.
The more serious of the reported long-term side effects are kidney toxicity and loss of bone density. I brought up the kidney issue with my doctor when I saw her, and she said not to worry about it because my kidney cysts are not reducing my kidney function below normal. But with my recent stress fracture I'm concerned about taking a drug that would interfere with bone density.
Truvada also increases cholesterol and triglycerides, and right now I'm already borderline high on those tests.
Taking maximum doses of NSAIDs adds to the risk of kidney toxicity, and I occasionally do take maximum doses of NSAIDs when recovering from long runs or engaging in extreme butt play.
If I take the time to get to know my sexual partners, and we use condoms for fucking and gloves for fisting, I think my chances of acquiring HIV are pretty low anyway. If my partner is HIV+ but receiving treatment and his virus level is undetectable, then condoms and gloves should be enough.
I still think this is something I'll only do if I start a new long-term relationship and we want to go without condoms, especially if the guy is HIV+.
The price is ridiculous -- $21,000 per year. I'd pay only $360 of that, but still. Compared to the cost of condoms and gloves ... it's a large tribute to our capitalist health care system.
The more serious of the reported long-term side effects are kidney toxicity and loss of bone density. I brought up the kidney issue with my doctor when I saw her, and she said not to worry about it because my kidney cysts are not reducing my kidney function below normal. But with my recent stress fracture I'm concerned about taking a drug that would interfere with bone density.
Truvada also increases cholesterol and triglycerides, and right now I'm already borderline high on those tests.
Taking maximum doses of NSAIDs adds to the risk of kidney toxicity, and I occasionally do take maximum doses of NSAIDs when recovering from long runs or engaging in extreme butt play.
If I take the time to get to know my sexual partners, and we use condoms for fucking and gloves for fisting, I think my chances of acquiring HIV are pretty low anyway. If my partner is HIV+ but receiving treatment and his virus level is undetectable, then condoms and gloves should be enough.
I still think this is something I'll only do if I start a new long-term relationship and we want to go without condoms, especially if the guy is HIV+.