PrEP, condom, screening: the winning trio to protect against HIV - In the news

2023-12-01 14:16:28

December 1, 2023

How can we best protect ourselves against HIV which, contrary to some popular belief, continues to circulate in France? PrEP, condoms, screening: let’s take stock.

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) comes in the form of small blue capsules that can be taken before and after risky sexual intercourse to protect against contamination by the AIDS virus.

What use do we have of PrEP (Truvada or generics), prescribed since January 2016*? During 2023, general practitioners continued to prescribe this molecule to populations exposed to HIV, according to the results of the EPI-PHARE scientific interest group (ANSM-CNAM). Note that PrEP was initially prescribed mainly to men who have sex with men (MSM), given the increased risk of contamination compared to the general population.

« During 2022 and the first half of 2023, the slow diffusion of PrEP to population groups other than MSM in large metropolises continued while remaining limited. », do not fail to remind the same experts. A sign of still limited knowledge of this treatment.

The vast majority of men in Ile-de-France

In detail, more “ 20,000 new treatment initiations were implemented between July 2022 and June 2023, or nearly 1700 per month on average “, we can read in the report. The majority of ” PrEP users are still mainly men residing in Île-de-France or in a large metropolis, among whom the proportion of people in precarious situations is low and the level of access to primary care is higher than the average the French ».

Condom + screening = combined prevention

In addition to PrEP, wearing a condom (now free for those under 26) remains essential to protect yourself. And this for vaginal and anal penetration as well as for oral sex: fellatio, cunnilingus and rimming.

A system, which when coupled with diligent screening, forms so-called combined prevention, “ the best way to fight HIV and other STIs », as specified by Public Health France. To encourage the French to carry out regular blood tests when they are exposed to HIV and other STIs, Public Health France and the Ministry of Health and Prevention have been broadcasting since November 24 the second part of the campaign “ Everyone has questions about sexuality “. The first part was broadcast in spring 2023.

What relationship do the French have with screening?

« HIV screening activity reached a higher level than in 2019 with 6.5 million HIV serologies carried out by medical biology laboratories », Relays Public Health France. Proof that the French are increasingly responsible on this subject. And vigilance is bearing fruit on the contamination rate. Indeed, ” the number of people who discovered their HIV status in 2022 was estimated between 4,200 and 5,700 “. Inferior data “ to those of 2019, which, in a context of increasing screening volume, is encouraging regarding the dynamics of the epidemic ».

Please note: to go further, go to the Questionsexualite.fr website put online by Public Health France and the Ministry of Health and Prevention.

* All healthcare professionals can prescribe PrEP since 1^is June 2021