HIV Screening & Early Initiation Of ART

People with HIV who are aware of their status can get HIV treatment (called antiretroviral therapy or ART) and remain healthy for many years. Studies show that the sooner people start treatment after diagnosis, the more they benefit from ART. Treatment with ART reduces the amount of HIV in the blood (called viral load), reduces HIV-related illness, and helps prevent transmission to others. People with HIV who take HIV medicine as prescribed and get and keep an undetectable viral load (or stay virally suppressed) have effectively no risk of transmitting HIV to HIV-negative sex partners.

Prep Treatment

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (or PrEP) is when people at risk for HIV take daily medicine to prevent HIV and/or if you have multiple sexual partners or are a sex worker. PrEP can stop HIV from taking hold and spreading throughout your body. When taken daily, PrEP is highly effective for preventing HIV from sex or injection drug use. PrEP is much less effective when it is not taken consistently. Studies have shown that PrEP reduces the risk of getting HIV from sex by about 99% when taken daily. Among people who inject drugs, PrEP reduces the risk of getting HIV by at least 74% when taken daily. Patient assistance programs for PrEP are available in coordination with Hope and Help of Central Florida. Please inquire with one of our providers for additional information.

STI/STD Prevention And Wellness Screening

If you are sexually active, getting regularly tested for STIs/STD’s is an important part of your overall health. Many STIs/STD’s don’t cause any symptoms so getting tested is the only way to know. All STIs/STD’s are treatable and many are curable. Screening, diagnosis, and treatment for most sexually transmitted infections STIs/STD’s is available, including HIV testing and counseling.  Our nurse practitioners and doctors provide confidential exams and counseling related to your sexual and reproductive health.