Community Insights - Life on PrEP (Scott)

Scott's Journey on PrEP

Can you introduce yourself? 

• My name is Scott. I am 32 years old. I was born in Edmonton, or Amiskwaciwaskahikan, but grew up on a cattle ranch in Treaty 6 territory: traditional lands for the Niitsítpiis-stahkoii ᖹᐟᒧᐧᐨᑯᐧ ᓴᐦᖾᐟ (Blackfoot / Niitsítapi ᖹᐟᒧᐧᒣᑯ), Michif Piyii (Métis), Cree, Očhéthi Šakówiŋ.
• I am currently working full time, but I am applying to graduate school to gain skills related to helping to protect our natural environment, species that live there, and help in the fight against climate change. Hopefully a school out there thinks I’m cool enough to give me a spot :)
• I sing with a choir in the city, despite the pandemic we have persevered! Making music together with my fellow singers brings me so much joy. I also love to go on road trips with friends, often singing along to our music as loud as possible, and travel when I can (prior to COVID).
• I love to spend time with my friends and family, read, watch TV, movies, learn new things, and try new foods. Social justice is something I am also keen on learning about and I am continuously learning ways that I can continue to help amplify marginalized voices and actively practice anti-racism. BLM MMIW2S

How did you make the decision to start PrEP?

• Starting PrEP was something I had wanted to do for a long time, to make sure that I am protecting myself and others. I found that I was always hesitant about finding somewhere to get screened for STI’s and I had neglected to find a family doctor since I moved to the city, so I always made sure I was being safe in every other way when I was with a partner. I was apprehensive about going to walk in clinic as well to try and get a prescription for PrEP since I knew that there would likely be a lot of awkward questions to answer, and I don’t think a lot of people’s favourite place is in a doctor’s office answering personal questions haha. It’s not mine anyway. 
• I finally came to the decision that I needed to get over my apprehension and figure out a way to obtain it. Luckily Freddie was an option for me.

Since starting PrEP, what’s the main difference you notice?

• The main difference I would say is that I am a lot more comfortable talking about sexual health and encouraging people to discuss it to try and remove the stigma as much as possible. I also am a lot more comfortable in having the conversation about sexual health with a potential partner. It’s made the conversation a lot easier and we can discuss things openly.

Do you have any advice for people out there considering PrEP?

• Freddie took away all the apprehensiveness I had about having the conversation about what PrEP is and if it was the right thing for me. Any questions I had were answered by the physician doing the intake, and the physician also asked me what I knew about PrEP too. Honestly, Freddie made the process so easy that I would encourage anyone who is interested to check it out. After my initial conversation over the phone with a Freddie physician, they sent out a requisition for blood work at a lab close to my home, I did the tests, and within a couple of days I had my initial supply of PrEP delivered to me. PrEP has been empowering for me to have an easier conversation navigating sexual health with a partner and, with Freddie’s services, I don’t have to worry about those awkward doctor’s office visits either. If you’re considering PrEP at all, try signing up with Freddie, it was so easy and simple.

Thank you so much! You can follow Scott through the links below:

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