AIDS

AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. AIDS is a spectrum of conditions caused by the HIV virus.

EMTRICITABINE

Emtricitabine is an active ingredient in one of the medications that can be used for PrEP. It is used in combination with tenofovir -- commonly known by the brand name "Truvada".

GENERIC DRUGS

Generic drugs are amedication that have the same active ingredients as brand-name drugs except they are manufactured by a different manufacturer and are usually way cheaper. 

HIV

HIV is a retrovirus which infects the human immune system. HIV may cause AIDS (a collection of diseases and symptoms) by eventually killing the white blood cells, which a healthy body uses to fight off disease.

HIV STATUS

When you get tested for HIV, your results will be either HIV positive or HIV negative. HIV positive means you carry the virus. HIV negative means you do not carry the virus. It’s important to get tested regularly to ensure you get treatment right away, and to prevent the spread of HIV to others.

Lamivudine (3TC) is one of the active ingredients that can be used in medication for PrEP. 

MSM

MSM stands for "Men who have sex with men". This term is often used in medical research studies and literature to refer to gay, bi, transwomen and those who were assigned male at birth but don’t necessarily identify as gay or bisexual, and who have sex with other men.

PEP

PEP stands for ‘post-exposure prophylaxis’. PEP is used to prevent HIV infection after potential exposure to the virus. Being on PEP means taking HIV medications for 30 days within 48 hours of exposure to prevent the onset of HIV infection.

PrEP

Stands for ‘pre-exposure prophylaxis’, meaning it is a prevention method that occurs prior to exposure. 

SERODISCORDANT

A serodiscordant relationship is a relationship where 1 partner is HIV positive, and the other is HIV negative.

STDs

Sexually transmitted diseases. These can include syphilis, gonorrhoea, hepatitis, herpes, genital warts, chlamydia and others. Often used interchangeably with STIs, however, having an STD means that the infection has progressed to the point you are experiencing symptoms or complications of the disease.

STIs

Sexually transmitted infections. These can include syphilis, gonorrhea, hepatitis, herpes, genital warts, chlamydia and others. Often used interchangeably with STDs, however, having an STI means that you are infected and may spread the virus, but you may not have any symptoms of the disease.

TasP

TasP stands for 'Treatment as Prevention.' When people who are HIV positive and receive effective treatment for HIV (i.e. they take HIV medications), they reduce the risk of passing the virus on to others, and therefore, prevent transmission of the virus. 

TENOFOVIR

Tenofovir is the main ingredient that is used in medication used for PrEP. 

TRUVADA

Truvada is the brand name of one type of medication that is used to treat and prevent HIV. There are two active ingredientsin Truvada: emtricitabine and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (tenofovir). Brand name Truvada is produced by Gilead.  Read more about Truvada on Gilead's site.  

UNDETECTABLE

When someone is HIV+ and undetectable, it means that the virus is at such low levels in their blood, that it cannot be detected in a standard viral load blood test. This does not mean that the virus is gone. Rather, current tests for HIV viral load cannot detect levels lower than 40 copies of HIV in 1 ml of blood. For more information on HIV viral load.

U=U

U=U stands for ‘Undetectable equals Untransmittable.’ This term is used in reference when people who are HIV+ and taking HIV meds, have an undetectable viral load. This means that HIV is at very low levels in their blood, and the virus cannot be detected in a viral load blood test. When someone is ‘undetectable,’ they can’t pass HIV to their sex partners. For U=U to be effective, people who are HIV+ need to keep taking their medications as prescribed, see their doctors and get tested regularly.

Here’s more info on U=U.