HIV self-testing kits have been making headlines lately because they empower individuals and supposedly make testing more accessible. Is this really so? Statistics suggest that the effectiveness of this prevention approach may not be as high as originally anticipated.
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PrEP use during pregnancy hasn’t been studied so far. A new study provides insightful information about the safety of antiretroviral medications used to diminish the risk of contracting HIV in the event of exposure. Researchers found out that PrEP use during pregnancy is not linked to adverse outcomes.
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HIV-positive individuals have to take their daily dose of antiretroviral medications to suppress the virus and keep it from replicating. Researchers are now experimenting with a new gel-like formula that will completely eliminate the need for taking a daily dose.
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PrEP use during pregnancy hasn’t been studied so far. A new study provides insightful information about the safety of antiretroviral medications used to diminish the risk of contracting HIV in the event of exposure. Researchers found out that PrEP use during pregnancy is not linked to adverse outcomes.
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Pay it forward programmes have been introduced in various countries to make STD testing more easily accessible. One of the newest studies on this approach tests the effectiveness of such screening options in China. The results are quite promising.
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The world is seeing a significant increase in the number of new sexually transmitted disease (STD) cases. The World Health Organization has come up with new guidelines aimed at addressing the problem. More readily available and adequate testing coverage is one of the primary recommendations that can produce a significant shift in the current troublesome trends.
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Genetics play an important role in the way we respond to pathogens like the human immunodeficiency virus. A new study among people of African descent suggests that certain genetic variants supress the viral load of people who have a chronic HIV infection. These variants also reduce the risk of viral transmission.
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The development of antiretroviral therapy (ART) is one of the most defining discoveries in the fight against HIV. New data and WHO recommendations suggest that the widespread ART administration among HIV-positive individuals is the best option for improving individual health outcomes and eliminating the risk of transmission.
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Sexually transmitted diseases can usually spread via contact with infected bodily fluids. This happens most often during sexual encounters. An infected mother, however, can also pass an STD to her child. Some of the most common infections can be carried in breast milk.
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Symptoms of STDs most often affect the genital region and the reproductive tract. These conditions, however, can also affect other organs and systems. The eye has mucous membranes that make it an easy target for STD-causing pathogens. While such infections aren’t very common among adults, they are still a cause of vision problems among children in developing economies.
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