I talk a lot about STIs and how important it is to take measures to prevent contracting or spreading them. Not only can they cause discomfort and infertility, but some, such as HIV, can even result in death. 
Good news, though — it looks like scientists are working on a pill that can prevent HIV, the STI that causes AIDS. At first, this seems like an amazing idea, but it's actually causing some controversy. The drug is being tested on three continents, and its purpose is to boost a person's immune system so if they are exposed to HIV, they won't contract the virus. So far, the drug is working, reducing the risk of HIV infection by 80 percent. But public health officials are worried that if people start using this HIV prevention pill, they'll feel invincible, which will make them less inclined to use condoms. This could be extremely detrimental since the drug doesn't provide 100 percent protection against HIV, and it definitely doesn't protect against other STIs.
Right now, statistics show that 1.1 million people have HIV in the US, and 33 million are infected worldwide. Anything that could stop those numbers from increasing would be great, but do you think this HIV prevention pill is the answer?
Dunhill
Patrizia Pepe
ras
I think it definitely couldnt hurt. Also, just because there is a birth control pill doesnt mean people dont use condoms to prevent pregnancy, right?
1With the amount of people who are affected with HIV, I cant really understand why people would be hesitant about this drug. This pill seems like it would do far more good then bad....esspecially if used on children who are affected
2I'm with Fallen85. People who are prone to being cautious about STDs will use condoms, HIV pill or no HIV pill.
3Flamingo, this doesn't affect people who already have the virus, it's only helpful for people who are being exposed to the virus, but who do not yet have it.
4I would be worried too. But all means, it's a good idea, but what now? Take birth control and take the HIV pill then have sex with everyone under the sun and moon? God help us all when they come out with a pill to "prevent" other STDs. Such a pill popping society we live in. Humans will never be invincible, hope people realize that these pills isn't technology given to us by the Ancients...this isn't the scifi channel.
5thats just once more pill we can add to the list I'm already on BC. I think its good to protect yourself in as many ways as possible but I'm not so keen just to jump on the bandwagon when it comes to new drugs and vaccines. I have yet to get a hpv shot b/c I'm still waiting for all the side effects to come into the light. Like we all that the patch was such a good idea and look what happened with that.
6Pills don't solve everything that's for sure.
7Anything that helps. It's kind of selfish to say we live in a pill-popping society when there are many places with HIV epidemics who can barely afford basic pills like antibiotics. If the pills are made affordable and there is good education, I'm all for it.
8many places in the world*
9This should be manufactured for places that actually need it more and would be more responsible with it. Sorry, USA just isn't responsible enough to have this yet, if anything it should be heavily regulated, and just just an "oh doc, can I have an HIV pill I slept around last night." I can think of a whole continent where this would be useful
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10i wanna see more proof that this works. i think they should just make a shot for this. either way it could just be another company making billions of dollars on something that might not even work.
11All it does it boost your immune system? Take some vitamins, those boost your immune system aswell. If it's making your immune system better it probably does prevent other things like colds and stuff.. but anyway I'm not too sure about this.
12Every little bit helps, what we also need is comprehensive sex education in school. Some don't seem to take sti's seriously.
13Maybe it's usefull for those who live with people who have HIV/AIDS to prevent become infected
14I'm the sort of person who would take it if I were in contact with various bodily fluids on a day to day basis, such as a paramedic. If I weren't in a committed relationship, I would consider it because condoms do fail and you never know the full sexual history of someone you barely know.
15I'm with you, ThePerfectScore, I wouldn't take it personally until I see if there are any unforeseen side effects. But I think that this could really be beneficial to people in countries heavily afflicted by aids, such as africa (especially since many of those women are raped and don't have the option of using condoms). In general, I think that these pills should be prescribed with the strong recommendation that people use them with a condom.
16I don't think there's any danger of people using it so they can stop using conraceptives. It would be available by prescription, right? So (at least in the US) you would only be prescribed if you partner is HIV positive, and in that case you would want to be extremely careful.
In countries where the high rate of HIV shows that people aren't using condoms anyway, every little bit helps. In others where rape isn't criminalised or is even used as an instrument of war, it's not like a girl can tell her attacker to please use a condom.
17I think it's a good idea after it's throughly tested of course. And I don't think it will just make people feel invincible.
18People that already use condoms are responsible or else they wouldn't already be using condoms, so I think they would still be careful and use condoms even with this pill.
And people that don't use condoms already are just going to continue not using them even if the pill helps. So I don't think that would really be affected.
And like other posters have said, in places like Africa women are raped and people don't use condoms anyway, so it would be very helpful for places like that.
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