Antiretroviral Sex: The Transformation Of Safe Sex? A Public Lecture

Treatment as prevention and PrEP provide new approaches to avoid HIV safely, but this poses challenges to the forms in which communities understand 'safe sex' and probably practice it.

A free, public lecture, given by Associate Professor Martin Holt of the University of New South Wales Centre for Social Research in Health in Sydney last week considers the radical transformations in HIV prevention associated with the use of antiretroviral therapy and PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis). Gay men’s understanding and awareness of the current prevention methods has progressed with great haste, but history insinuates that people may continue to define safe sex as condom use for a long time to come.

As safe sex transforms to adapt the new opportunities provided by ‘antiretroviral sex’, what are the impacts on sexual and social relationships, identities and HIV-related stigma?

"I take PrEP every morning with my vitamins as it gives me around the clock protection. I sometimes use condoms when I want the extra security blanket.", anonymous respondent says.

You can listen to this lecture given at the 2017 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Festival Supported by Darlinghurst Theatre Company on Youtube by following the link below https://goo.gl/0siUxS