Health

Recent studies confirm PrEP benefits — and barriers to wider access

Recent studies confirm PrEP benefits — and barriers to wider access

PrEP is highly effective as an HIV prevention tool, but barriers to wider access are limiting its full potential, according to recent studies.

Rare PrEP failure reported at confab

Rare PrEP failure reported at confab

A San Francisco man is the sixth known case of PrEP failure despite consistent use of Truvada, researchers from the Department of Public Health and UCSF reported at the IDWeek conference held in San Francisco earlier this month.

The Life of the Party

The Life of the Party

  • HEALTH
  • by Juanita MORE!
  • Oct 3, 2018

When I first moved to San Francisco, one of my roommates sold a little coke and meth to help him make some extra cash while working his way through college. By that time, I had already made it through school as a devoted pot smoker.

Douche character promotes anal health

Douche character promotes anal health

  • HEALTH
  • by Matthew S. Bajko
  • Sep 26, 2018

San Francisco health officials over the years have turned to cartoon characters in order to relay important health messages to men who have sex with men in attention grabbing ways.

Study: PrEP and HIV testing underused

Study: PrEP and HIV testing underused

Only 4 percent of sexually active gay and bisexual men in the United States are using PrEP, according to a recently published study, showing that more must be done to reach everyone who could benefit from it.

Public weighs in on next SF health dept. head

Public weighs in on next SF health dept. head

  • HEALTH
  • by Alex Madison
  • Sep 19, 2018

The most common attributes people want to see in the next San Francisco health director are prioritizing collaboration, support for nonprofits, and mitigating health disparities among minority communities.

FDA approves new HIV meds

FDA approves new HIV meds

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved two new HIV treatment medications containing doravirine, a next-generation non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor.

Annual HIV report highlights disparities, declining numbers

Annual HIV report highlights disparities, declining numbers

The latest San Francisco HIV epidemiology report shows that while the number of new infections continues to decline, African-Americans and homeless people have persistently higher infection rates and poorer outcomes.

HIV suppression improves, but gaps remain

HIV suppression improves, but gaps remain

The proportion of people with HIV who achieve viral suppression has risen dramatically across the United States over the past two decades, but young black men are not seeing the same gains, according to a new study.

Research suggests policies are barrier to ending HIV

Research suggests policies are barrier to ending HIV

Government policies can work against achieving an end to HIV by limiting access to prevention and treatment for the most heavily affected groups, according to research presented at the 22nd International AIDS Conference last week in Amsterdam.

Kaiser doctor receives leadership award

Kaiser doctor receives leadership award

  • HEALTH
  • by Sari Staver
  • Aug 1, 2018

A gay Union City Kaiser Permanente physician has been awarded the LGBTQ Leadership Award by the California chapter of the National Diversity Council for his longtime advocacy work.

Activists want next AIDS confab out of Bay Area

Activists want next AIDS confab out of Bay Area

Activists kicked off this week's 22nd International AIDS Conference in Amsterdam with calls to move the next confab out of the San Francisco Bay Area.

New campaign promotes PrEP for Latinos

New campaign promotes PrEP for Latinos

A new Spanish-language PrEP campaign has launched to raise awareness about the HIV prevention pill in Latino communities.

Kink about town

Kink about town

  • SEX
  • by Race Bannon
  • May 30, 2018

But as I prepare to attend what is the biggest men's leather and kink event of its kind in the world, I'm reflecting on some of the events I've been attending this past week here locally in San Francisco.