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When we consider side effects as the primary concern for people nervous about taking PrEP, let's compare taking one pill once a day to prevent a lifelong infection with taking up to five or six medications everyday to treat an infection. HIV negative people adhering to the daily PrEP regimen as prescribed have shown little to no side effects. The two side effects that could be concerning are potential impacts on kidneys and bone density. Both of these effects are closely monitored by the patient's doctor and won't leave irreversible damage if PrEP is discontinued.The last common argument of anti-PrEP advocates is the problem of adherence. As Dr. Bernard Branson, a former associate director in the CDC's division of HIV/AIDS prevention, testified, "All [prevention methods] require consistent adherence. No prevention method is completely foolproof." While PrEP and condoms both require adherence to work, PrEP is far more forgiving. Parts of the medication has a half-life of up to 167 hours. Condoms have a half-life of zero.What we are left with is the question of whether we are willing to let adults be in charge of their own health. Women now have the choice of which contraception to use. It's time to encourage at-risk individuals to make the same kind of serious decisions about their own bodies.We can end this epidemic if we really want to. We have all the tools we need.Follow Eric on Twitter.We can end this epidemic if we really want to. We have all the tools we need.