According to a WHO report, there were an estimated 37.7 million people living with HIV at the end of 2020. / Photograph by Kristine Wook
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Online dating and the PrEP for safe sex
Online dating has become a widespread global phenomenon in the past few years. With the onset of the worldwide pandemic, online dating users have increased significantly. According to a Statista.com report, online dating users will increase to 66.6 million by 2026. With the growing popularity of casual dating and the prevalence of hookup culture, the youth face the risk of HIV AIDS, and other STDs.
Online dating apps provide a convenient platform for their users to find partners easily and engage in sexual activities in a casual or committed setup. This is a significant factor in why dating apps have rapidly gained popularity among the youth. According to a Harm Reduction Journal report, the primary reason for 45.1% of online dating users to use these apps is casual sex. As online dating and its users engaging with multiple partners is becoming popular, young people are at a greater risk of contracting diseases like HIV. Young people engaging in casual and unprotected sex are also exposed to more significant chances of contracting other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
However, with PrEP or Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis, HIV transmission among the youth can be mitigated significantly. But what exactly is PrEP?
About the drug and its usage
PrEP is a combination of drugs merged into a single pill to prevent HIV transmission. Research findings have suggested that people on PrEP report no new infection while engaging with multiple sexual partners. For people who don’t use protection and engage with other people without confirming their HIV status, PrEP becomes a vital drug to protect them from new infections.
The New York state health department suggests that a person at a high risk of HIV AIDS should consume two pills 2 to 24 hours before a possible sexual exposure and continue to take one medication each until two days after the last sexual contact. In India, Cipla produces the drug TEVIR-EM, commonly used as the pre-exposure prophylaxis tablet.
Importance of PrEP in the online dating culture
The usage of PrEP tablets is widely shared among people from the LGBTQ+ community as a popular drug. “One of the major concerns for me with online dating is if the other person is a PrEP user or not,” says Advaita, a bi-sexual man and a business analyst based in Delhi, India. Advaita says he read about the drug in an online article and has been using it since 2020.
“While looking for partners online, be it casual or something serious, I actively look for people who have added PrEP in their bio. It’s the primary factor for me to decide if I have to engage with a person sexually or not,” adds Advaita. However, he also emphasizes the importance of condoms in preventing STDs and transmission of HIV AIDS. He states that people must understand that using protection during casual sex is the “most important” safe sex practice.
“While looking for partners online, be it casual or something serious, I actively look for people who have added PrEP in their bio. It’s the primary factor for me to decide if I have to engage with a person sexually or not.”
Condoms are highly effective in preventing pregnancy, STDs, STIs, and AIDS.
Risk and side effects
The short-term side effects of PrEP include headaches, diarrhea, nausea, pain in the abdomen, etc., which generally go away with. However, the long-term results may consist of some severe complications. TRUVADA, the US counterpart of the PrEP drug, has listed some long-term complications on its website, including kidney problems, liver problems, increased lactic acid in the blood, etc.
Not many long-term risks were discovered in several PrEP studies. However, these results are based on limited research, and this area has a lot of scope for advanced research. Hence, medical practitioners always suggest people consume this drug under sufficient medical supervision.
Pop culture and the way forward
With online dating gaining traction rapidly among young people and the hook-up culture becoming popular, it becomes crucial for young people to understand the risks associated with casual unprotected sex. Online dating apps provide conducive platforms for people of all sexual orientations to find partners for casual or serious relationships. However, engaging with multiple partners and unprotected sex with strangers is a recipe for disaster, putting young people's health at massive risk.
Promoting PrEP by the authorities, medical fraternity, and NGOs could increase awareness among young people. The world is fighting against HIV AIDS, and India is also a significant player. An RTI reply data reports that about 1.7 million Indians contracted HIV in 10 years. However, data suggests that the numbers have come down when compared to the data of 2011-12, which reported these numbers at 2.4 million.
The usage and promotion of PrEP can reduce these numbers significantly and keep people safe from HIV. It’s time for Indians to PrEP and talk about safe sex practices to battle this disease and become a champion on the global stage.
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