SAMSON

Hi, my name is Samson. I reside in Brisbane (Meeanjin) Originally, I grew up in Melbourne (Naarm.) I am a Youth Worker and am very passionate about working with young people to help create positive change in their lives. I am also an avid comic book/ pop culture enthusiast and you will often find me spending my spare time (what little of it I have) either burying my head in a comic book or re-watching all my favourite comic book (Super Hero) movies.

To protect myself from HIV, I started taking PrEP about two years ago when I came out as gay after a relationship break up. I knew I was about to embark on a journey of self-discovery (not the first time) and my sexual health is, was and always will be an important component of my life.

As a transgender gay identifying man having one less worry in my life is important, so having an open and honest conversation with my trusted trans friendly GP was something I felt needed to be done in order to protect myself against HIV during relations with my future sexual partners.

I access PrEP via prescription through my regular GP via text message, then go to my local pharmacy and fill my script. All I have to do once I get to the pharmacy is open the text message and click the link which takes me to the script, which has a QR code on it for the pharmacist to scan.

I have only ever encountered obstacles in my access to PrEP when my GP has no face-to-face appointments available to refill my prescription, but have managed this via Telehealth consults instead. Telehealth is an appointment booked either online or over the phone, directly through your GP’s office. This appointment will be via either your GP calling over the phone or they can also call you via video call to have your appointment. This can be useful for people who have barriers to attending a face-to-face appointment or if your GP is not available for a face-to-face consult.

In order to obtain my first PrEP script, I had to attend my GP face-to-face and get an STI screening done. Once my results were returned and everything came back clear, I was given my first script, which will last me 3 months. Every script thereafter, I have attended an appointment with the GP and done a STI screen every 3 months. PBS prices have gone down so the cost is now $29.00 per bottle.

I take PrEP daily (one pill a day) as recommended for transgender men. I have never really experienced any real side effects while taking PrEP and believe that as a trans man with a unique body and a unique way to have sex (vaginally) that having a regular and trusted trans friendly GP and access to PrEP helps me to feel safe about how I have sex with other men.

The benefits of PrEP speak for themselves. Predominantly a fairly risk-free way to prevent the transmission of HIV. PrEP makes you feel more confident and has helped to reduce any earlier anxiety of getting HIV.

For trans men like myself access to affordable, low risk PrEPis crucial. Also being able to have an open and honest conversation with a trusting and non-judgemental health professional about my sexual health is comforting. I encourage all trans men considering PrEP to have that conversation with their health care professional and take ownership of your unique body and sexual health.