Participation in the Magnetic Couples Study

I liked the survey. It helped me to be more aware of my situation and what I had to do to protect my relationship. Since the first time I came I was more aware of PrEP.  Some of the questions steer you to wanting to use PrEP (for my partner.) But I think you should still use condoms. My partner may miss taking the PrEP one day, or I could forget to take my medicine, so condoms are important too. (HIV+ male Magnetic Study participant; partner on PrEP)
The educational session lets you know that you can be undetectable and still continue to have some risk, but combining with another method like condoms or PrEP you can be 99.5% protected. You can compare the risks factors. I am still leaning on using all three though. ​(HIV+ male Magnetic Study participant; partner on PrEP)
A lot of people are not aware of PrEP. I like it here. Everyone is nice. Not pushy. I feel welcome. (HIV+ male Magnetic Study participant)
I think it was cool to learn about PrEP and how effective it is. It is obvious how it works looking at the graph they showed and it is good for people to know that all 3 prevention methods (being undetectable, PrEP and condoms) is the safest way. I will still want to use condoms. (HIV- female Magnetic Study participant)
The survey questions are important because they make you think. It reminds me of being in school.  It makes you want to go to school. It’s a good feeling.  (HIV- male Magnetic Study participant; PrEP user)
It was awesome. I liked everything. Questions were easy to understand, although one question brought up something difficult. It was a question about spousal abuse. I am a child of domestic violence so it caught me. When asked if I do it with my spouse, I said, no, I don’t. For a brief moment I took the headphones off. I talked to the staff person about this and she helped me through it. Some of the questions were funny. I was laughing about them. The sex questions, I was laughing the whole time. I wasn’t expecting to be asked sex questions in a study. But, it was cool though. Questions made me think about my life and my life with my partner. (HIV+ male Magnetic Study participant; partner on PrEP)
The survey was good. It asks respectful questions. The voice on the computer says, “Answer the best way you can,” so that is what I did. It asks about my partner. I liked that part the best. I answered the best way I can, truthfully. I like writing on a tablet like that. I never did that before. I liked it. I learned to be honest. Me and my partner were off a little … that thing on the computer opened up my head a little bit to be honest with each other, to support each other. We have to work together. I am on HIV meds and he is on PrEP.  (HIV+ female Magnetic Study participant; partner on PrEP)
Truvada is new. This is the first study targeting heterosexual mixed-status couples. Anything I can do in the formative stages of something that will benefit someone else down the road, I want to be involved. (HIV- male Magnetic Study participant; PrEP user)
The survey was great. I liked the questions it asks you, it gets you updated with what can happen and what can’t happen with PrEP. It takes you through everything little by little and makes you understand things. (HIV- male Magnetic Study participant; PrEP user)

Love, Unrestricted

It eases your mind to know that you won’t get sick, and you can make love to your partner with more care. Before, I was playing Russian Roulette. Now, with the PrEP, I am not scared any more. It works if you let it work. I’ve had no side effects. (HIV- male Magnetic Study participant; PrEP user)
I feel like today was a big day for my learning. I want to be able to have unprotected sex and be protected at the same time. I will feel more comfortable having sex with Truvada and I think it will make a big difference in our relationship, and I can help my partner more. It will make me feel like regular people because sex is a necessity in relationships. (HIV- Magnetic Study participant, plans to take PreP)
My partner is the one who told me about PrEP. I had never heard about it. I have been taking PrEP since February every day and I have no complaints. So far so good. My doctor told me you can take it for the rest of your life if you want to. (HIV- male Magnetic Study participant; PrEP user)
We used to talk about having sex and being protected and I just explained to him, we are going to these classes, they talk about all kinds of stuff. I heard about PrEP, and I said, maybe you should try PrEP. I made an appointment for him and he spoke to the nurse and he agreed to go on it. We have safe sex. We still use condoms and I take my medication every day. (HIV+ female Magnetic Study participant; partner on PrEP)
We’ve been together for freakin’ two, three years and we really love each other. We’re trying to have kids so it’s good that I have something to protect myself. I take my medication so I know that I’m safe. I feel with the PrEP, It’s like a flu shot, like a vaccination. Its helping you fight from the inside, so it’s like a soul. Condoms are like a piece of clothing. You put them on and you wear them around and you throw them away. That’s how I look at things. (HIV- male Magnetic Study participant; PrEP user)