Free Condom Fit Kit

Condom Frequently Asked Questions

 

1. Can condoms provide protection from sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV?
Yes. Whether you use latex male condoms or female condoms, they are both very effective in preventing HIV and many other STIs when used the right way every time. Condoms may prevent the spread of other STIs, like the Human Papillomavirus (HPV, genital or venereal warts) or genital herpes, only when the condom covers the infected areas or sores. To find out if you might have an STI, visit your doctor or clinic as soon as you can.

 

2. Is there a 100% effective way to prevent sexual transmission of HIV and STIs?
The only 100% effective way to prevent sexual transmission of HIV and STIs is through abstinence - avoiding all vaginal, anal and oral sex. Using a latex male condom or a female condom can greatly reduce, but not entirely eliminate, the risk of HIV and STI transmission. Abstinence is the only method to completely eliminate the possibility of sexual transmission of HIV or STIs.

 

3. Do birth control methods other than condoms reduce the risk of STIs including HIV?
No. Only condoms reduce the risk of pregnancy, STIs and HIV. Birth control pills, the birth control patch, contraceptive injections such as Depo-Provera, intrauterine devices (IUDs), diaphragms, and any birth control methods other than condoms do not provide protection against STIs and HIV. You should use a latex male condom or a female condom for STI and HIV prevention along with any other method you use to prevent pregnancy. Condoms can prevent the spread of other STIs, like HPV or genital herpes, only when the condom covers all of the infected area or sores.

 

4. What is the correct way to use a condom?
Store condoms in a cool place, out of direct sunlight. Check the expiration date on the condom wrapper or box. Condoms that are past their expiration date may break. Open the package carefully. Teeth or fingernails can rip the condom.

 

For latex male condoms:

• Put on the condom after the penis is hard. If the penis is not circumcised, pull back the foreskin before putting on the condom.
• Pinch the tip of the condom to leave a little space (about a half-inch) at the top to catch semen.
• Unroll the condom all the way down the penis. Add a little bit of water-based lubricant (like K-Y®, ID Glide® and Wet®) to the outside of the condom.
• After ejaculation, hold the rim of the condom and pull out the penis while it is still hard, so that no semen spills out.
• Use a new condom every time you have vaginal, anal or oral sex.
• If the condom does not fit correctly or is uncomfortable, try a different size or brand to avoid the condom breaking or further discomfort uncomfortable.

 

For female condoms:

• You may insert the female condom up to eight hours before sexual intercourse.
• You should add a few drops of extra lubricant to the inside of the female condom before putting it in the vagina. Lubricants may also be added to the penis before having sex.
• Hold the female condom with the open end hanging down. Holding the outside of the condom, squeeze the inner ring with your thumb and middle finger. Put your index finger between your thumb and middle finger.
• Still squeezing the inner ring, insert the condom into the vagina. Once the condom is inside the vagina, put your index finger inside the condom and push the inner ring up as high as it will go.
• The inner ring sits above your pubic bone and holds the condom in place. The outer ring should be outside the vagina. Make sure the condom is not twisted.

HIV Home Testing Kit Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the HIV Home Test Kit?
The HIV Test Kit is a simple home screening pack that allows you to provide a sample for HIV testing from home. Your sample is then sent to our pathology partner lab, who will process your test results. Depending on the type of test, it may require a saliva or blood sample. Detailed instructions will be included with your test. 

2. Who should use them and when?
There are many different reasons why people choose to use a home HIV test kit. Users are frequently:

 

Individuals with a strong need to keep their medical conditions private:

• People living in remote areas
• Individuals living in small towns or places where they feel they can’t be anonymous
• People without a lot of schedule flexibility
• Individuals engaging in high-risk behaviors who have never been tested for HIV

 

High-risk behaviors that increase one’s risk of exposure to HIV include:

• IV drug use
• Sharing needles and IV drug paraphernalia
• Having unprotected sex without knowing a partner’s HIV status
• Having unprotected sex with a person who has HIV
• Trading sex for money or drugs

 

It is strongly recommended that anyone who has engaged in any of these behaviors is tested for HIV as soon as possible.

3. Why should I get tested?
One of the most crucial and effective weapons in the fight against HIV & AIDS is testing. It is in fact an important first step in preventing the further spread of HIV. However, preventive measures can only be successfully carried out if people are serious and co-operative enough. The test must be reliable, fast, accurate, convenient, discreet, and affordable. If results are positive, the patient can then proceed to obtain further confirmatory tests and professional counseling. With early intervention, there is every possible chance to lead a healthier and prolonged life.

 

The key to living a healthy life with HIV is being diagnosed early. The first practical level of awareness is to get tested either independently through reliable home test kits or through the hospitals. If you are identified positive, find an HIV specialist. Getting into the care of an HIV specialist is the next level and this approach represents an essential part of staying healthy and alive.

4. When should I test?
If you suspect a possible infection, it is ideal to take a HIV rapid test as soon as possible.

The “window period” is the time taken by the human body to create HIV antibodies. Medically, this process is known as seroconversion. During the window period, because of the lack of HIV antibodies present in the bodily fluids that can be detected by the HIV rapid test kit, a negative result can be shown. The duration of the window period can be from 3 weeks to 6 months. Most individuals develop detectable antibodies within 3 months of HIV infection while there are rare cases where it took as long as 6 months. Hence, it is recommended to test more than one time using 1 test kit for additional or subsequent testing.

5. How many times should I test?
Depending on individuals, it is advised to have 2 (two) tests 1-3 (one to three) months apart. During this period of testing, it is advised to completely abstain from activities that might result in possible HIV infection.

6. If the result is positive, does that mean I definitely have HIV?
No test is 100% accurate. Although the sensitivity and specificity of the HIV rapid testing kit are each greater than 99%, false positives might possibly occur. It is recommended to test more than once for additional results verification.

7. What if the result is positive?
Today, there are many medications available; please consult your doctor for further suggestions. There are also confirmatory tests such as the Western Blot and the PCR tests to confirm your HIV status. These tests are more specific than the antibodies test. Your doctor will also be able to refer you to proper counseling services and medical treatment. Early knowledge and treatment will prolong your life as well as improve the quality of life, which explains the great importance of performing an HIV screening.

 
8. If the result is negative, does that mean I definitely do not have HIV?
Same as previously mentioned, there is the possibility of the virus not being detected during the window period. Hence, it is also recommended to test more than once for additional results verification.

9. Is there privacy when I order?
Yes. All information provided will be treated in the strictest of confidence. Your order would be sent in a discreet, anonymous package with no mention of our company name or anything specific about the content in it.

PrEP FAQs

 

1. What is PrEP?
PrEP is a daily pill that, when taken as prescribed, greatly reduces your risk of getting HIV. PrEP does not provide immunity against HIV; as soon as you stop taking PrEP, you lose protection against the HIV virus. PrEP has to be taken every day for optimal protection against HIV. PrEP is not a vaccine. A vaccine provides immunity against an illness for a long period of time with no daily upkeep.

 

2. How long does PrEP take to work?
PrEP typically takes 7 days to provide full protection for anal sex and 20 days for vaginal sex. It’s important to use condoms during those times to prevent HIV transmission.

3. How effective at preventing HIV is PrEP?
When taken correctly and consistently, PrEP is 92%–99% effective in reducing your risk for HIV.

 

4. Once you start using PrEP, do you have to use PrEP forever?
No. We recognize that people go in and out of “seasons of risk,” where there are certain times it makes sense to take PrEP, and then other times where it doesn’t make sense to take PrEP.

 

5. If I take PrEP, can I stop using condoms?
Using condoms is a personal choice made between you and your sex partners. PrEP only protects against HIV so condoms can help you prevent things that PrEP can’t—like pregnancy, or STIs.

 

6. Are there any side effects associated with daily PrEP use?
Most PrEP users don’t experience side effects. In your first few weeks of taking PrEP, you might experience minor symptoms such as fatigue, headache, abdominal pain and weight loss. These side effects should go away.

 

7. I think I’ve been exposed to HIV. Can I start taking PrEP to prevent infection?
No. PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis) can only prevent HIV when taken consistently BEFORE exposure. PrEP cannot be started as a method of treatment AFTER an event of HIV exposure (such as sex without a condom, needle-sharing drug use, or sexual assault).

 

PEP (Post-Exposure Prophylaxis) is the 28-day treatment regimen recommended for people who’ve been exposed to HIV. If you think you have been exposed to HIV, it is important that you start taking PEP as soon as possible. PEP is only effective if taken within 72 hours of possible HIV exposure.

 

If you are exposed to HIV during a weekend, or you cannot make an appointment for the next day with your primary care doctor, go to an emergency room for immediate treatment. Do not wait more than 36 hours to start PEP treatment.

 

If you are currently taking PEP, talk to your doctor before starting PrEP. Blood testing and a short wait time are required to make sure you are HIV-negative after finishing a PEP regimen.

 

8. What if my doctor doesn’t know about PrEP?
If your primary care doctor is unfamiliar with PrEP, call Fulton County Board of Health PrEP Expansion Department at 404-613-4708. Our physicians or PrEP Educators can contact your doctor on your behalf to talk about what PrEP is, and how it might be beneficial to you.