Sexual Health: PrEP & PEP HIV Prevention in Beijing

Pic Source - CDC

PrEP & PEP HIV Prevention in Beijing

Author: Joshua Hiller

A history of stigmatism and discrimination lies around HIV and the people it infects. Sometimes the prejudice that follows can seem worse than the disease itself. Individuals can be labeled and deemed socially unacceptable, believed to be part of certain social groups that make immoral judgments. It’s not uncommon for people to be judged as ‘deserving’ of HIV because of their life choices, despite their efforts to prevent HIV transmissions and raise awareness. 

Outdated beliefs and fears need to be stripped back and the truth exposed for all to hear and see.

HIV Affects Us All

Knowledge, Awareness

Prevention

Sets Us Free

Start Talking

Stop HIV

HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is a virus that attacks your immune system interfering with the body’s ability to fight infections. Once you get it, you have it for life. Currently there is no cure, but with the right medical care, it can be controlled. Untreated, HIV can lead to AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome).

Pic Source - CDC

How is HIV Transmitted?

The virus can be transmitted through contact with infected blood, semen or vaginal fluids. Within a few weeks of HIV infection, flu-like symptoms can occur such as fever, sore throat and fatigue. The disease is typically asymptomatic until it progresses to AIDS.

FACT

Over 16,000 HIV positive cases were reported in China in 2018 among 15-24 year olds. HIV infection has surged in recent years among this age group despite steps taken to discourage the spread. Counseling services and anonymous test kits placed in vending machines across university campuses in Beijing has not decreased the ever-mounting new cases among young people, with 3000 new student cases every year.

Fear of stigma and criticism from peers? From family?

Fear of people knowing you are sexually active?

Fear of being judged?

These Issues Hold Back Change

TALK!

Whether young or old, we have a responsibility to ourselves and our children to be educated on healthy sexual practices; being responsible about protection and seeking help and advice without fear of reprisal is crucial when fighting against stigma and discrimination.

HIV Prevention and Management

Pic Source - CDC

What Medications are Available for HIV?

There are three types of medication available for HIV, each with their own unique purposes:

1. HAART

   Highly Active Anti-Retroviral Therapy, or HAART, are the medications used to treat HIV. As stated above, there is no cure at present for HIV, but it is manageable through lifelong treatment of HAART. 

   
   

2. PrEP

   Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis, or PrEP, is preventative medicine people who do not have HIV but are at risk of HIV. Insurance plans may cover the cost of PrEP, check with your provider for details. If you are at risk of repeated exposure to HIV, talk to your healthcare provider about PrEP.

3. PEP

   Post-Exposure Prophylaxis, or PEP, is medication taken after possible exposure to prevent HIV. PEP is for emergency situations only and must be started within 72hrs after possible exposure to HIV. If you believe to have been exposed whether through sex (condom broke), through needle sharing, syringes or other equipment for injecting drugs, or have been assaulted, then the sooner the better, every hour counts. Once prescribed, a course of PEP should be taken daily for 28 days. Depending on the reason you are prescribed PEP, you may qualify to be covered by insurance or your workplace (exposure at work).

In 2015, Charlie Sheen, a famous American actor, probably most well-known for “Two and a Half Men”, spoke out publicly on being HIV positive having being diagnosed 4 years prior. This action of “Talking”, caused a major chain-reaction resulting in over a million people googling HIV that increased awareness and testing and later became known as the Charlie Sheen Effect.

Another element of Charlie Sheen’s HIV news that caught great attention was his sexual relations with women while living with HIV. He’d had unprotected sex with partners knowing of his condition. To quote Heather Boerner, a writer specialized in health care and the author of “Positively Negative” – 

“Based on what Sheen said, how is it possible for someone that’s HIV-positive to have unprotected sex without passing it on?

The answer is highly-active antiretroviral treatment (HAART). That is, HIV meds. Today’s HIV meds are better, have fewer side effects and are often available in a single combination pill. When taken consistently and when followed closely by their doctors, people with HIV can achieve an undetectable viral load and maintain it for years.

So when Sheen says that it’s virtually impossible for him to pass on the virus, he’s right."

An undetectable viral load means that the copies of HIV in his blood are so few, they are undetectable by current tests. This does not mean a person is cured, but while correctly using HAART medications, an undetectable viral load also means there is no virus in his system to pass to sexual partners. A major study - Prevention of HIV-1 Infection with Early Antiretroviral Therapy, found that just having a suppressed viral load can reduce the risk of transmitting the virus by 96%.

Although Charlie Sheen had an undetectable viral load due to his continued use of HAART, his lovers also took measures to protect themselves with PrEP while continuing sexual relations with him.

Effectiveness of PrEP and PEP Against Infection:

PrEP Efficacy Rating: 99%

PrEP, when taken daily, is highly effective at preventing HIV. It is 99% effective against HIV transmission through sexual contact and 74% effective against HIV transmission through injection drugs.

PEP Efficacy Rating: 80%

With PEP, every hour counts. If you fear exposure, seek medical assistance as soon as possible and within the first 72hrs of exposure. 

NOTE

Neither PrEP nor PEP provides protection against STDs such as gonorrhea, syphilis, HPV etc. Condoms provide additional protection against HIV and most STDs and unintended pregnancies. No method is 100% effective against HIV infection, but together, these methods offer more complete protection.

Where can I purchase PrEP and PEP?

These medications are available in a number of hospitals across Beijing:

1. Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University

   首都医科大学附属北京佑安医院

2. Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University

   首都医科大学附属北京地坛医院

3. Peking Union Medical College Hospital

   北京协和医院

4. 302 Hospital PLA

   中国人民解放军第三0二医院

OASIS International Hospital is a private hospital that will also provide PrEP and PEP services beginning in the New Year. They are an established HIV and STD testing center who have added these medications to their services to provide a more comprehensive healthcare package.

Medications Available:

• PrEP. Sufatin (200mg entritabine + 300mg tenofovir) *30 tablets 

  PrEP. 舒发泰（恩曲他滨200mg+替诺福韦300mg）*30片  

  
  

• PEP. Wirade 0.3g*30 PCS 

  PEP. 韦瑞德 0.3g*30片

  Lamivudine 0.1g*14 tablets 
  

  拉米夫定 0.1g*14片 

  Rilpivirine 25mg*30 PCS
  

  利匹韦林25mg*30片

PrEP is Recommended to the Following:

1. Sexually active heterosexual men and women without HIV: recommended for men and women without HIV who have a sexual partner with HIV with a detectable viral load. 

2. Sexually active gay and bisexual men without HIV: men who have sex with men (MSM) if, within the last six months, they have engaged in high-risk sexual behaviors or had a documented bacterial sexually transmitted infection.

3. Sexually active transgender persons without HIV

4. People who do not have HIV but inject drugs and have the possibility of sharing needles with others.

STI Screening @OASIS

OASIS is a certified HIV antibody testing center, certified since 2013 by the Beijing Municipal Health Commission. Our in-house laboratory is accredited by the NCCL EQA since 2018 and is in full operation 24/7.

*STI screening may be covered by insurance. Contact OASIS to query your insurance benefits.

*For corporate and individual memberships, discounts apply.

Author Joshua Hiller has lived in China since 2007 and currently works at the OASIS International Hospital in Beijing. Read more from Joshua on Date Night China: Sexual Health: STDs, STIs, & Getting Tested in Beijing.

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