QUESTION: I'm 17 years old. Can I get on PrEP?
ANSWER: Yes and No. Unfortunately, this is a complicated question…
This was previously slightly complicated, but I'm excited to now be able to say that Yes, you can! PrEP-AP is a program that assists with the cost of the medication and is now available to individuals under the age of 18 years old. Whether you don't have insurance, or if you're on your parents insurance but don't want to get PrEP through that due to the risk of them finding out, PrEP-AP can help you. Get in touch with the CHIP team and we will provide you with further information and can link you to our PrEP Navigator to answer all of your questions and help get you started on PrEP if you decide that's what you want to do.
ANSWER: Yes and No. Unfortunately, this is a complicated question…
This was previously slightly complicated, but I'm excited to now be able to say that Yes, you can! PrEP-AP is a program that assists with the cost of the medication and is now available to individuals under the age of 18 years old. Whether you don't have insurance, or if you're on your parents insurance but don't want to get PrEP through that due to the risk of them finding out, PrEP-AP can help you. Get in touch with the CHIP team and we will provide you with further information and can link you to our PrEP Navigator to answer all of your questions and help get you started on PrEP if you decide that's what you want to do.
QUESTION: Does CHIP send free Condoms to Homes?
ANSWER: The CHIP program does not send condoms to individual homes. However, teens between the ages of 12-19 can order free condoms to be picked up or delivered from Teen Source. Each package comes with 10 condoms, 10 packets of lube, and information on STDs. Condomfinder is another website that can help you locate where to pick up free condoms in your area. Remember that you can always pick up free condoms from the CHIP Program at the Teen Clinic or at one of our mobile testing events.
ANSWER: The CHIP program does not send condoms to individual homes. However, teens between the ages of 12-19 can order free condoms to be picked up or delivered from Teen Source. Each package comes with 10 condoms, 10 packets of lube, and information on STDs. Condomfinder is another website that can help you locate where to pick up free condoms in your area. Remember that you can always pick up free condoms from the CHIP Program at the Teen Clinic or at one of our mobile testing events.
QUESTION: Can someone be homosexual if they are a virgin?
ANSWER: Yes. Identifying as homosexual relates to who you are attracted to, ie. your sexual orientation. A person’s sexual orientation is completely separate from their virginity. If a person hasn’t had sex, then they’re a virgin; if a person has had sex, then they are not a virgin. Here are some other terms that may help:
1. Gender Identity - is who you feel you are: man, woman, and/ or gender-queer.
2. Gender expression - is how you demonstrate yourself: feminine, masculine, and/ or androgynous.
3. Biological sex - take a look down your pants; we can biologically be female, male or inter-sex.
4. Sexual orientation - who are you attracted to; heterosexual, homosexual, and or bisexual.
- heterosexual = someone who is attracted to people of the opposite sex.
- homosexual = someone who is attracted to people of the same sex.
- bisexual = someone who is attracted to people of the both the same and opposite sex.
For more information on gender and sexuality, check out this very informative website: "It's Pronounced Metrosexual"
ANSWER: Yes. Identifying as homosexual relates to who you are attracted to, ie. your sexual orientation. A person’s sexual orientation is completely separate from their virginity. If a person hasn’t had sex, then they’re a virgin; if a person has had sex, then they are not a virgin. Here are some other terms that may help:
1. Gender Identity - is who you feel you are: man, woman, and/ or gender-queer.
2. Gender expression - is how you demonstrate yourself: feminine, masculine, and/ or androgynous.
3. Biological sex - take a look down your pants; we can biologically be female, male or inter-sex.
4. Sexual orientation - who are you attracted to; heterosexual, homosexual, and or bisexual.
- heterosexual = someone who is attracted to people of the opposite sex.
- homosexual = someone who is attracted to people of the same sex.
- bisexual = someone who is attracted to people of the both the same and opposite sex.
For more information on gender and sexuality, check out this very informative website: "It's Pronounced Metrosexual"
QUESTION: What is the most Common STD besides HIV?
ANSWER:
ANSWER:
- What is the most common STD besides HIV?
- There are a ton of STDs out there, but the most common ones we hear/learn about are Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Syphilis, Herpes Simplex Virus 2, Genital Warts (Human Papilloma Virus), HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis C.
- In San Diego County and California, Chlamydia is the most commonly reported STD.
- For more information, check out San Diego’s Health & Human Services Agency HIV, STD & Hepatitis Branch’s Reports and Statistics
QUESTION: What is the medication that allows individuals to not contract HIV?
ANSWER:
I believe you are asking about Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), which is like the birth control pill for HIV! It’s a pill that an HIV-negative person can take that can prevent them from contracting HIV. It’s up to 98% effective if taken correctly. Most important, PrEP is for anyone who is at high risk of contracting HIV. For example, this can be men who are having sex with other men, a woman who has an HIV-positive partner, someone who has multiple sex partners or injects drugs regularly. The list goes on and on.
If you are interested in reading some of the clinical trials that have been conducted with PrEP, you can find them on the CDC website.
Head over to our "What is PrEP?" page for further details on PrEP, as well as how to link to a PrEP Navigator if you would like to know more or are interested in getting started on it.
ANSWER:
I believe you are asking about Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), which is like the birth control pill for HIV! It’s a pill that an HIV-negative person can take that can prevent them from contracting HIV. It’s up to 98% effective if taken correctly. Most important, PrEP is for anyone who is at high risk of contracting HIV. For example, this can be men who are having sex with other men, a woman who has an HIV-positive partner, someone who has multiple sex partners or injects drugs regularly. The list goes on and on.
If you are interested in reading some of the clinical trials that have been conducted with PrEP, you can find them on the CDC website.
Head over to our "What is PrEP?" page for further details on PrEP, as well as how to link to a PrEP Navigator if you would like to know more or are interested in getting started on it.