Photo credits: Freya Luna

The first time I learned about the HIV virus and AIDS, I was a child in the nineties. I was fascinated by this virus, its ability to mutate and our inability to find a cure. Fast forward 20 years later, and I find myself in a position where this virus is real to me, not just something I read/heard about.

When I first found out that the man I had fallen in love with is living with the virus, I felt like I had been punched. I wondered if we would be able to have a normal relationship and lead a normal life: be able to get married, have children, and grow old together. I didn?t know enough about the virus to make an educated decision. I also didn?t have anyone I could talk to about this, so I searched the web for answers. This is how I learned about serodiscordant couples, pre-exposure prophylaxis (or PrEP), antiretroviral therapy (ART), being undetectable, and also realized how little resources there are for people like me, that are ?negative.?

When I first approached my OB/GYN to let her know I was in a relationship with a man living with the virus and wanted to know what resources were available to me (other than condoms) to protect myself, she didn?t know. When I told her about Truvada (PrEP) and asked her to prescribed it, she said she didn’t know if she could prescribe a medication that she hadn’t heard of that and that she would check with a friend of hers that was an infectious disease doctor and let me know. That was nearly a year ago and to this day I still have not gotten a prescription.? When I asked her why there were so little resources for people like me who are HIV negative and in relationships with people living with HIV, she said that we didn’t live in an ?at -risk community.?? My partner also faced similar hardships in his home town, he didn?t fit the profile of an ?at-risk? man so there was little support available to him.

After my experience with my OB/GYN, I didn’t think that my primary doctor would have the answers either. I contacted an infectious disease doctor?s office and a local center that provides resources for people living with the virus and I was turned away because I’m not HIV positive.? I asked my partner to talk to his doctor to see if he would prescribe Truvada, but his doctor said he wouldn?t prescribe it because it would encourage risky behavior (i.e. having ?unprotected? sex).

Despite these obstacles, I was not discouraged. I continued my research online in hope I could find an organization that could provide answers to my questions. This is how I came across HIVE, and decided to contact them to find out if they could refer me to anyone in South Florida that could help me find the information I needed and let me know how I could get PrEP. This is how I met Caroline Watson who promptly answered my e-mail and provided the contact information to a clinic I could go to.

I think if we truly want to remove the stigma associated with this virus, resources should not only be available to a demographic group that is deemed ?at-risk.?? Also, medical professionals should not decide who should have access to PrEP or who shouldn’t.? This flawed logic reminds me of how it was once argued that we shouldn’t give condoms to college students because we are encouraging them to have intercourse hence, we should not give access to PrEP because we will encourage ?unprotected? (condomless) sex.? I should be allowed to be responsible for my own reproductive health and I?m appalled at the fact that it has taken me over a year to get the answers I need.

When I finally got the appointment at the clinic, meeting the nurse was a wonderful experience. Being able to talk to someone that is knowledgeable about living with the virus, who could answer questions about pregnancy and breastfeeding, and helping me be sure of what I already knew: this is not the end of the world.

Unfortunately, I haven?t been able to get PrEP as it is still not as accessible as I wish it was. First, I?m trying to check if I can participate in a study at that clinic that provides it and does the follow-up. If that doesn?t happen, then I?ll be provided with the contact to another office which will prescribe it, and finally, I will have to figure out if my insurance will cover it. That?s a whole other battle.

A year ago my partner thought I would run to the hills when I learned about his status, but knowledge and LOVE are a powerful combination.

Freya Luna lives in South Florida, has two children, and is in a serodifferent relationship. Her new mission in life is to help make PrEP accessible to anyone that is negative and wishes to remain that way and to advocate for one’s right to be responsible for one’s sexual and reproductive health and have access to resources regardless of one’s status.