Pre-exposure prophylaxis, also known as PrEP for short, is a medicine that can prevent people from contracting HIV. This medication is taken by people who don’t have human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) but are at high risk for being exposed, or coming into contact with, the virus. 

PrEP blocks the enzymes, or proteins in the blood, that allow HIV to multiply. To block these enzymes, you must build up enough PrEP in your bloodstream. Once PrEP has reached a certain level in your bloodstream, it can prevent HIV from replicating in your body.

Post-exposure prophylaxis, also known as PEP for short, is a medicine that can prevent people from contracting HIV. It can be used in emergency situations by people who don’t already have human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) but may have recently been exposed to HIV. PEP can prevent HIV from spreading through your body after a possible HIV exposure. PEP should be taken within 72 hours of a potential exposure. The sooner you start PEP, the more effective it is at protecting against an HIV infection. 

Birth control (or contraception) is any regimen or medicine used to prevent pregnancy.

Most birth control options are used by people with internal reproductive anatomy such as a uterus, vulva, and vagina, while only a few options are available for those with external reproductive anatomy such as a penis and testes.

Health guidelines for transgender people are unfortunately an under-researched topic. Most existing guidelines are extremely binary and based on sex assigned at birth, which comprises anatomy, body composition, and hormones. The research doesn’t offer much guidance for non-binary or intersex individuals. Knowing whether to follow existing female or male guidelines can therefore be confusing and often requires the guidance and support of a health care provider.

Stress is a normal psychological and physical reaction to the demands of life. Work, school, relationships, and daily hassles can often serve as stressors, or sources of stress. Stress isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Good stress, or eustress, pushes us to work harder. When this stress becomes overwhelming or hard to manage, it’s called distress and can impact your health.

The main symptom of headaches is head pain. Though the majority of headaches are benign or not life-threatening, some may be an indicator of a more serious health issue.

Sexually transmitted infections are infections that are transmitted from person-to-person during anal, oral, or vaginal sex; genital skin-to-skin contact, or when fluids are exchanged from one person to another. This can occur via direct contact with the fluid or through the mutual use of sex toys.

Quitting nicotine and tobacco is no small feat—and sometimes quitting can be difficult to navigate. As you plan your quit journey, there are many different things to consider to make these next steps easier. This includes having an understanding of nicotine and tobacco, how to get started, and what supports you have available to you during your journey. 

If you’ve made the decision to quit nicotine, you might experience withdrawal and other unpleasant side effects. While this shouldn’t deter you from continuing your quit journey, there are some considerations when navigating nicotine withdrawal.

Sleep plays an integral role in maintaining physical and mental health. Not getting enough quality sleep can interfere with a person’s ability to store newly learned information, potentially leading to a negative impact on academic performance. In addition, sleep deprivation is associated with daytime sleepiness, depressed mood, impaired concentration and memory, and a weakened immune system.