If you’re on PrEP but you’ve decided that you’re no longer hooking up with other guys during the COVID-19 lockdown, we answer whether it is safe to just stop taking the meds.
It’s official, well actually doctor’s orders, you really shouldn’t be having sex with anyone new to you and outside of your current living arrangement during the coronavirus outbreak.
The medical director of Terrence Higgins Trust, Doctor Michael Brady, warned yesterday that people have to stop hooking up during the Government-mandated Covid-19 lockdown.
But if you’re currently on a course of PrEP medication and you’ve decided to heed his words, is it safe to just stop taking them?
Can you just stop taking PrEP?
According to THT, many people will be choosing not to take PrEP during lockdown, which is okay, providing you don’t have a specific need like you’re having sex with a partner who has a detectable viral load.
Guidance from THT states, if you’re a gay / bi cis-male “it’s safe to stop taking PrEP as long as you stop after two full days after you last had sex”.
If you’re a trans woman, a cis-female, trans man or someone who identifies as non-binary it is advised you wait until seven full days, after you last had sex, before stopping PrEP.
How can I start on PrEP again?
Is it safe to just stop taking PrEP medication?
According to THT advice, “When you’re ready to re-start PrEP, cis gay and bisexual men can re-start with a double dose taken two to 24 hours before sex. For everyone else, you need to re-start with a daily dose for seven days before having sex again”.
Of course, if you’re concerned about your medication and want further guidance, you should speak to your GP or sexual health advisors.
I do it every Christmas period. For some unbeknown reason, usually around Boxing Day, I decide it might be a good idea to go in search of a husband. I don’t know what comes over me. It must be the excessive plonk consumed over the festive period.
Or, on a more serious note, it could be the fact that Christmas makes me feel all loved up and warm and fuzzy inside. And gives me the notion that it might actually be nice to fall in love after all.
Although I must confess I’ve forgotten what it’s like to be in requited love. Without wanting anybody to crack out the violins, it has been more years than I care to remember.
iPhone at the ready… Plenty OF Fish downloaded… And snap.
So, there I was on Boxing Day night, staring at the present-less Christmas tree, clutching a bottle of Single Malt Scotch Whiskey. Yes, I know it’s rare for anything other than New Zealand savvy B to pass my lips but I do like to treat myself from time to time.
After my third large Scotch, I stood up determinedly and declared to myself that I would find a husband. Dramatically pressing the buttons on my iPhone, I downloaded Plenty of Fish.
Obviously, I picked my best photographs and kept my profile simple.
“Love to laugh, love to have fun. Love the theatre, the beach, swimming, reading and writing. And I love men!”
Within minutes, a lovely looking chap called Matthew pops up in my inbox. Yes, I know, I just used the word CHAP. I’m clearly getting old. I even used the word DISCO when describing a CLUB the other day.
Anyway, back to Matthew who seemed rather forward.
“Let’s video chat”, he insisted.
Okay, I thought. At least I’ll get to see him in the flesh and it will give me a glimpse of his true personality. It’s so easy to hide behind a keyboard.
As I pressed accept on the video chat, I saw that he was topless. I was in a two-piece pyjama set but each to their own.
The call starts off with small talk and then he pans down his pecs and six-pack. What a body, I think to myself.
And then he comes to his piece de resistance. I see him clutching his fully erect manhood, rather seductively. Now, I’m no prude but in my naivety, I truly believed this video call was to be an initial test to judge our compatibility.
“Watch me wank!” He bellows through the iPhone screen at me.
Being the ever-accommodating gay boy, I oblige. But after his voyeurism, I never hear from Matthew again and I notice that he’s blocked me. Bastard.
Never mind, an extremely cute bloke called Louie pops up into my inbox to distract my attention away from being dumped by Matthew.
Within seconds, I notice that Louie is probably not looking for a relationship. His profile classes him as straight and looking for a woman. What is it with Plenty of Fish and straight men chasing the homos?
Well, Louie was beautiful and willing, so who am I to turn down a chat, gay or not? He started the proceedings.
“Do you want me to wank for you Sir? I’m so horny Daddy. Can I call you Daddy?”
Being an ex-holiday park entertainer, I’m not one to turn down the chance to partake in performing arts.
“Yes, you can call me Daddy. And you better respect me”, I typed sniggering.
“Okay. Tell me what you want me to do Master Daddy.”
In the meantime, I see another supposedly straight man arrive in my inbox. Terry. He wants me to make a video for him. And he’s certainly precise in his direction. Eat your heart out Stephen Spielberg.
“Have your legs over your shoulders with your wet fingers running over your juicy hole.”
Not being an acrobat, I feared I may have problems in obliging. And being a writer, I’m not opposed to engaging in a bit of naughty talk. But I draw the line at dirty videos. You never know when they might come back to bite you on the bum. Pun intended.
This time I took a leaf out of Matthew’s book and made use of the block feature of the app.
And then, just as I was about to give up, my fortunes changed. An ‘actual’ gay man sent me a message. Darren. And he asks for no dirty talk or sexually explicit videos. He engages in purely decent conversation, obviously on a quest to find love.
We spend a few days sending endless messages to each other. It was going so well. We’d even started to arrange a first date.
He happens to ask me what I’m giving up for Lent. I inform him that I’m giving up swearing.
“Is your swearing really that bad?” He asks me.
“I’d be lying if I said the C U Next Tuesday word doesn’t often leave my lips. Back off now if you’re easily offended.”
And then Darren showed me that he’s also capable of making use of the block button. What a C…
