At the CSD, Lutz met a man who informed him about PrEP. This was followed by an internet search and a consultation with a doctor, and since then the 27-year-old has been taking a tablet every day to protect himself against HIV. We have written down why he decided to do this on his behalf.
Lutz: "The most important rule when it comes to safer sex? Be honest with yourself! There are a lot of guys who claim that they only ever do it with a condom. If you then probe a bit, it turns out that they sometimes forget to use it'. At the same time, the same people get hysterical when it comes to PrEP. I find that pretty immature and hypocritical.
Already had sex without a condom before PrEP
"But sometimes it just happened out of sheer lust."
I have been taking PrEP myself since autumn 2017, which means I swallow a tablet every day that reliably protects me from HIV infection. The medication is a copycat product of Truvada, otherwise I wouldn't be able to afford it. I pay 50 euros a month and I think it's money well spent. Because I've always had sex relatively often without a condom. Sometimes it was arranged: Some of my sex mates are HIV-positive and below the detection limit. That protected me from infection. But sometimes it just happened out of sheer lust, and afterwards I was always terrified that I might have caught it. That risk is over now.
Reflect and weigh up
I have a conversation at the Cologne CSD last year to thank for this fact. A very nice man, with whom I am now friends, explained to me how PrEP works. I had heard about it before, but it seemed strange to me to take HIV medication as a healthy person. Keyword side effects. After the conversation, I started to wonder: should I continue to play a dangerous game with my health by fucking without a condom? Or do I admit to myself that it is better to voluntarily one tablet to protect myself from HIV instead of taking it at some point. several because I have become infected?
Consultation with the doctor
"The employee was open and friendly and recommended a specialist doctor to me."
A few weeks passed, during which I thought hard and read everything I could find on the internet about PrEP. In September, I was due for my HIV test, which I routinely take anonymously at a checkpoint in Cologne. There I asked what they thought of PrEP. The staff member was open and friendly and recommended a specialist doctor. The doctor asked me about my sexual behaviour and then said that this method of protection made sense in my case. However, I should only take the tablets once my blood had been analysed. Background: Before I could start PrEP, my doctor wanted to rule out that I had other sexually transmitted diseases. In addition to HIV, this was mainly hepatitis B. He also checked that I didn't have syphilis. He also checked my kidney values, as the active ingredient in the PrEP tablet is broken down by the kidneys.
Tablets are part of the routine
"I think about taking it just as naturally as I think about brushing my teeth."
Everything was fine for me and so I was able to start in October 2017. In the early days, I used an app that reminded me to take the tablet every day. That's no longer necessary. I remember to take it just as naturally as I remember to brush my teeth. I haven't noticed any side effects so far. I tolerate the medication well.
Four blood tests per year
I have made an appointment with my doctor. You can only get the prescription if you have a blood test every three months, among other things for HIV, kidney values and a possible syphilis infection. But that costs money again, in addition to the 50 euros for the tablets from the pharmacy. My doctor therefore recognises a blood test, which I have to have once a year at work anyway. It includes the kidney values. I go to the checkpoint once for HIV and syphilis and twice to my doctor. That makes a total of four tests a year.
Gonorrhoea and co.
"It's nonsense that people on PrEP turn into germ slingers."
I also get tested regularly for gonorrhoea and other sexually transmitted diseases. It's nonsense that people on PrEP turn into germ slingers. We PrEP users get tested much more frequently than others. If something is wrong, we get treated immediately, which also reduces the risk for others. I also got the odd case of gonorrhoea before PrEP, even though I had sex with a condom. The little bit of latex doesn't protect you from every bug.
Verbal abuse on Grindr
"Guys often write to me just to insult me."
Since I've been using PrEP, I feel better mentally. I know that it protects me from HIV just as well as condoms and that is very reassuring. I feel liberated during sex. That's why I'm open about PrEP. For example, it's listed as a safer sex method in my Grindr profile. Guys often write to me just to insult me. I'd rather not repeat what they say here. In any case, some of the comments are very insulting. These people can slide down my back. Anyone who just wants to insult should just keep their mouth shut. But if you're seriously interested in PrEP, I'm happy to discuss it with you."
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