Daily Doses Of Truvada Seen To Dramatically Decrease The Numbers Of New HIV Infections In Gay And Bisexual Men

The Associated Press reports that scientists have discovered that daily doses of Truvada, a pill already in use to treat the HIV infection, can be used a prophylactic, a means to protect gay men from becoming infected, study showing that daily doses of the drug cut the risk of infection by 44-percent when accompanied by condoms, counselling, and other prevention services. The study found that some men who took the pills regularly gained more protection, up to 73-percent. Researchers were initially concerned that the pill may have afforded the participating men a false sense of security and make them less likely to practice safer sex, however the opposite proved true, risky behaviours actually declined. According to Dr. Kevin Fenton, AIDS prevention chief at the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the results are “a major advance,” but he warned that may not apply to persons exposed to HIV through male-female sex, intravenous drug use, or other ways. Fenton added that “It’s not time for gay and bisexual men to throw out their condoms,” and that the pill “should never be seen as a first line of defense against HIV.” Since Truvada is already available, the CDC is hurrying to develop protocol for its use in HIV prevention, and urges people to wait until those are in place, advising gay and bisexual men to continue to use condoms consistently and correctly, continue to get regular HIV tests, as well as other STD’s, and reduce the number of sexual partners.