GENERAL INFORMATION
You can: Use condoms the right way every single time you have sex, choose less risky sex-related behaviors, restrict your variety of sex-related partners, and never share needles. Contact us for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), taking medicine every day to stop HIV infection.
Ultimately, it depends on your insurance plan. However, HelixCheck works with a number of pharmacies that provide a myriad of services including home delivery.
We take your privacy very seriously. Any information you submit to us through our online portal is transmitted via industry-standard encryption and stored in encrypted form on servers according to federal standards under HIPAA. We follow the federal standards set forth in the HITECH, HIPAA, and the Affordable Care Act.
Yes. We follow the Federal and State laws and regulations that govern privacy standards for protected health information.
Our partner Physicians are available six days a week ready to help you get the answers you need to take control of your sexual health. Send a confidential question through our “message us” link 24/7. *Due to the volume of messages, please allow up to 24 hours for a response.
HIV
HIV tests are reliably accurate, utilizing one correctly boosts the chances of getting a precise result. One element to keep in mind is just how much time has passed between the possible direct exposure as well as the test, referred to as the “home window” period. HIV is only detectable on a test after a certain amount of time has passed since exposure. An HIV test will be most accurate 90 days after a possible exposure to the virus.
Getting tested every 2-4 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months after high-risk sex will provide you with accurate results.
HIV drugs are life-saving tools, but they aren’t meant to be used indefinitely. And if HIV becomes resistant to one of the drugs being used, then it will no longer work. That’s why we advise patients who want to stop taking their HIV meds to think about what it means for their long-term health. Before making any decisions, speak to your healthcare provider.
To achieve maximum protection from HIV, PrEP should be taken as prescribed. Maximum protection occurs after taking PrEP for 21 consecutive days. However, you have to continue taking PrEP every day thereafter to stay protected.
Yes, you can contract HIV through oral sex. HIV is spread through infected bodily fluids, including seminal and vaginal fluids.
stds
There are two types of sexually transmitted infections: viral infections, which can’t be cured by antibiotics but can be treated with antiviral medications, and bacterial infections, which are generally easier to treat and often curable. Viral sexually transmitted infections include HIV/AIDS and Herpes; bacterial sexually transmitted infections include Syphilis, Gonorrhea, and Chlamydia.
There are so many types of STDs that show up on an STD test, but first, it’s important to understand that there are two ways to test for STDs. There are blood tests and swab tests, with the former being more accurate at detecting some STDs such as Chlamydia and Gonorrhea. However, both tests can accurately identify all types of STDs – like Herpes or HIV – with accuracy.
A few STDs are curable, but most are treatable with either antiviral drugs or antibiotics.
Many STDs are treatable with medication. At HelixCheck, our healthcare providers will complete your free test and evaluation as well as discuss treatment options and follow-up appointments to ensure the infection is cleared.
prep
If you’re HIV negative and had anal or vaginal sex in the past 6 months with a partner who is HIV positive (and has an unknown or detectable viral load), you might want to consider taking PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend PrEP to these people, as well as others who are at high risk of contracting HIV. Make an appointment on phone now to know your status. If you qualify for PrEP, a HelixCheck healthcare provider will prescribe it for you.
Once it is determined that PrEP is appropriate for you and you have tested negative for HIV at one of our locations, we will connect you with a healthcare provider who will prescribe you PrEP. If the result is positive, we will help you find the right HIV medication for you.
Some people experience side effects from PrEP such as diarrhea, nausea, headache, fatigue, or stomach pain. These effects usually go away over time, but feel free to contact a HelixCheck medical provider if you’re experiencing any discomfort.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that in the United States, 1 out of 8 people between the ages of 13 and 49 have HIV. If you’re sexually active with multiple partners or without protection, you may want to consider getting tested frequently or taking precautions like practicing abstinence, using condoms, and never sharing needles to prevent the spread of HIV. You may also be able to take advantage of HIV prevention medicines such as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and post-exposure prophylaxis (nPEP).
Talk to a professional
With your privacy and comfort top of mind, our trusted healthcare professionals are here to guide you every step of the way. HelixCheck provides comprehensive healthcare services to the community.
