Truvada as a licence to be promiscuous and shed precautions such as condoms

[jackson6612]

I'm not a biology or science student.

Does HIV AIDS have the potential to be transmitted even when using condoms? Can it transmitted thru other channels such oral sex etc?

I was reading this news story:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/health/cautionary-note-sounded-on-hiv-protection-drug/article1812277/

Excerpts:
A study released on Tuesday showed that daily doses of a drug called Truvada, already used to treat HIV infection, cut the risk of new infections among healthy gay men.

But concern exists that in the real world, some men will see Truvada as a license to be promiscuous and shed precautions such as condoms.

Canadian physician Philip Berger, who has been treating people with HIV-AIDS since the 1980s, said that using the pill reduces the risk of infection at a similar rate to using condoms or an antiretroviral-laden vaginal gel in women.

Questions:
What are these "new infections"? Can't it cure the one already suffering from AIDS?

What's the benefit of Truvada or any other such drug which won't even allow to shed condoms?

Thanks a lot for your time.

 

[Ygggdrasil]

Retroviruses, like HIV, cannot currently be cured. The virus takes its genetic material and inserts it into the DNA of the host cell that it infects. Once the virus has integrated into the host cell, it cannot be easily removed. Antiretroviral drugs (such as Truvada) can stop viral replication and alleviate the symptoms associated with the viral infection, but do not completely eliminate the virus from the body.

Truvada can work to prevent infection because the drug targets an early stage of viral replication and stops the virus before it can integrate itself into our DNA. Once the virus has integrated, however, the drug cannot act to remove the virus from our DNA.

Use of Truvada and other antiretroviral drugs as preventative measures against HIV has some advantages over condoms. In many cases, using a condom is not an option (e.g. prison rape, sex workers, and other cases where one partner refuses to use a condom). Whereas a condom would require the consent of both parties, the use of Truvada (as well as the vaginal gels) could be used by one party without the knowledge or consent of the other party.

The main disadvantage is the cost of Truvada. Condoms are very effective at preventing the transmission of HIV and other STDs and are much cheaper than Truvada. Prophylactic use of Truvada should probably be limited to cases where condoms would not be effective (the examples I listed above).

 

[jackson6612]

Thanks a lot, Yggg.

Does HIV AIDS have the potential to be transmitted even when using condoms? Can it be transmitted thru other sex acts other than vaginal?

A study released on Tuesday showed that daily doses of a drug called Truvada, already used to treat HIV infection, cut the risk of new infections among healthy gay men.

Those men were healthy that means they didn't have AIDS. "cut the risk of new infections" - Isn't the wording misleading? "new infections" suggests they already had some infections which would mean they weren't healthy, but the use of Truvada confined the progress of further infections. As Truvada targets HIV virus that would further mean they had an early stage, if there is one?, of AIDS.

 

[Evo]

Thanks a lot, Yggg.

Does HIV AIDS have the potential to be transmitted even when using condoms? Can it be transmitted thru other sex acts other than vaginal?

Aids/HIV can be trnsmitted through blood.

Those men were healthy that means they didn't have AIDS. "cut the risk of new infections" - Isn't the wording misleading? "new infections" suggests they already had some infections which would mean they weren't healthy, but the use of Truvada confined the progress of further infections. As Truvada targets HIV virus that would further mean they had an early stage, if there is one?, of AIDS.

"New Infections" means becoming infected, that's all.

 

[Ygggdrasil]

It is possible for condoms to break and for people to improperly use condoms, so yes it is possible for HIV to be transmitted even when using condoms. When using condoms properly, they are very effective at preventing HIV infection. It is possible that Truvada could be used as an emergency treatment in the case of condom breakage (similar to how "morning-after pills" are used).

HIV can be transmitted through other sex acts. HIV can be transmited any time when infected bodily fluids (semen, vaginal secretions, blood) come in contact with open wounds or mucous membranes (such as those found in the mouth, vagina, or rectum). Sex is not the only means of HIV transmission. For example, because blood carries HIV, intravenous drug uses can become infected with HIV if they share needles with individuals infected with HIV.

The word "new infections" is used to emphasize the fact that the drug helps to prevents uninfected individuals from becoming infected but cannot cure individuals who are already infected.

 

[jackson6612]

Thank you very much, Yggg, Evo. Wish you both happiness.

Best regards
Jack

 

[Ken Natton]

If I might offer a perspective on this: I always think it is vital to grasp the point that advice given by the medical profession in cases like this, and articles like the one you refereed to in the original post, jackson6612, are based more on a demographic view than on individual cases. If there can be developed a culture of condom use in casual and promiscuous sexual relationships, the general rate of the spread of HIV infection will be reduced. That doesn’t mean that the condom is an absolute guarantee against infection in every individual case. That, I think, is the point being made in that news article. If the appearance of an effective drug against the adverse effects of HIV infection undermines the efforts to promote a culture of condom use, then rates of infection might actually increase. Of course, prevention is always better than cure, and whatever the effectiveness of the drug you mention, Truvada, people still need to be getting the message that having casual and promiscuous sexual relationships without using condoms is an extremely risky practice.

 

[jackson6612]

Thanks for the perspective, Ken.

 

[ViewsofMars]

I had to do some research about Truvada. Truvada (Tenofovir Disoproxil and Emtricitabine Nucleoside) is a “Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitor”. It’s a Anti-HIV Medicine that can ‘help people live longer’ and ‘help to keep the virus from building up’. The drug doesn’t stop the spreading of HIV. A person with HIV can ‘still give the disease to someone else’.
http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ByAudience/ForWomen/FreePublications/ucm118597.htm

 

[jackson6612]

It’s a Anti-HIV Medicine that can ‘help people live longer’ and ‘help to keep the virus from building up’.

Mars, it has the ability to contain the virus and stop further spreading into other cells. A person who casually engages in casual sex with anyone they can get hold of can always be on Truvada to protect themselves from AIDS infection. Theoretically, as soon as virus gets in their body, it would be ravaged by Truvada. No medicine could be 100% effective, though. And ignore Truvada's price tag. Why use Truvada, when one can buy a pack condoms for few dollars.