241 - Black Women PrEP Too with Ashley Cobb

On this episode, Boonie is joined by a special guest, Ashley Cobb. Ashley is an Atlanta-based sex educator, writer, and HIV activist. She's our favorite friend who loves talking about all things related to sex and is passionate about raising awareness about HIV. With World Aid Day approaching, we discuss important topics regarding black women, unprotected sex, and the growing cases of HIV in this population. We also discuss Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), a medication for HIV prevention. Ashley shares her personal experience with PrEP, including their reasons for taking it and the lack of significant side effects. Disclaimer: The content in this episode is not meant to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your own physician or other qualified medical health provider for any questions you have about your own personal medical conditions. A transcript of the full episode is available here.  Follow Ashely here: Instagram & Twitter: @sexwithashley Website: http://www.sexwithashley.com Support for today's episode comes from Dame Products, a brand whose mission is to help close the pleasure gap for people with vulvas. Receive 10% off your purchase by using the code BOONIE10, shop here: https://bit.ly/DAMEBoonie The hashtag for the podcast #TheBoonieBreakdown. Share with others using the hashtag #PodIn. Join Boonie over on Patreon for exclusive content and events here: Patreon.com/TheBoonieBreakdown  Have something to say? You can ask your questions, send comments via email to [email protected] or submit them here: www.thebooniebreakdown.com/contact/.   Follow The Boonie Breakdown on Social Media: IG: @TheBoonieBreakdown Twitter: @BoonieBreakdown  Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheBoonieBreakdown   0:00:00 Introduction and Disclaimer 0:02:09 Pick of the Week: Lessons in Chemistry on Apple TV 0:04:00 The Importance of Protection and Money 0:08:24 The Importance of Being in the Right Place 0:17:39 Frustration after college, searching for job prospects 0:18:44 Connecting STIs and Sex Education 0:20:10 Misconceptions about PrEP: Not Just for Gay Men and Trans People 0:21:22 Marketing HIV drugs to specific demographics 0:25:00 Barriers to medical care and accessibility of testing 0:30:06 The Consequences of Not Seeking STI Testing 0:32:14 Addressing Side Effects and Appearance Concerns of PrEP 0:34:13 The Convenience and Regular Check-ups of PrEP Injections 0:35:53 Personal Choice: No Sexual Relationships 0:37:28 Open-mindedness and Exploration of Sexual Health 0:39:57 The Misconception of Safe Sex 0:42:30 The Cost and Coverage of PrEP 0:45:55 Exploring HIV and its possibilities 0:47:52 Wishing everyone a great week and signing off