PrEP: A game-changer in HIV prevention

In recognition of Zero HIV Stigma Day on July 21, let’s take a moment to highlight a breakthrough in HIV prevention, the power of Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) medications, and one journey that got us here.

I remember training to volunteer at the Gay Men’s Health Crisis (GMHC) in New York City in the mid-1990s. The HIV/AIDS crisis devastated the lives of a generation of gay men before me, but you would never hear it from them. Not yet. It was too soon.

Most carried pain so deep they couldn’t speak of it—nursing friends, lovers, or family members as a devastating immune deficiency syndrome attacked their bodies cell by cell, leaving them wasted away and desperately weak. They watched brilliant young lives around them disappear beneath a blanket of shame, dying lonely, painful, and stigmatized deaths.

New volunteers at GMHC, like me, often started in the mailroom—sealing envelopes destined for activists, congressmen, patients, or donors. But what stayed with me most from that training was learning how to provide home care when the time came. I specifically remember being taught how to speak with someone battling AIDS, and how vital it was to offer hope. Even if it was just a small gesture, a fleeting glimmer, or focused on something minor, especially when, in reality, hope was fading.

For my generation, that’s what made the discovery of Antiretroviral (ARV) drug therapies in 1996 such an amazing revolution in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Before the invention of these drugs, learning you were positive with HIV was often a death sentence. After, you had the hope of living a happy, healthy life with a manageable chronic condition.

Behind it was the breakthrough science of ARV therapy: it stops the virus from replicating within the body’s cells, reducing the viral load to undetectable levels. This allows the immune system to rebuild by increasing CD4 T-cell counts, making it strong enough to fight off disease.

PrEP medications are helping a new generation in another way.

PrEP medications contain the same antiretroviral drugs used to treat HIV, but in this case, they act as a proactive defense against infection. They work to prevent HIV from establishing itself in the body before exposure occurs. In fact, studies have shown that when taken consistently, PrEP reduces the risk of HIV transmission by up to 99% through sexual contact.

How do they work?

Blocking HIV from replicating: PrEP drugs interfere with HIV’s ability to enter and reproduce inside the body’s cells. If a person taking PrEP is exposed to HIV, the medication prevents the virus from taking hold and multiplying.

Maintaining protective drug levels: For PrEP to be effective, a high enough concentration of the medication must be present in the bloodstream and tissues. That’s why consistency is important—taking the medication regularly ensures continuous protection.

Breaking stigma and expanding access
Use of PrEP drugs is most common among gay and bisexual men, but it’s increasingly used by other communities, including heterosexual individuals, transgender people, and injection drug users.

In recent years, the access and affordability of these medications has improved. Many insurers and Medicaid programs cover PrEP. Financial assistance is also available to help those without coverage.

If you’re considering PrEP, please speak with your healthcare provider to learn more. Today, there is plenty of education for HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention. It’s always the right time to embrace prevention that works.

If you’re a member of Mass General Brigham Health Plan and have questions about PrEP coverage, please contact our customer service team.