Pregnancy – “99% effective”
This likely refers to daily birth control pills. When taken perfectly (same time every day, without missing any), they can be up to 99% effective. But in real-world use, the effectiveness drops to about 91%, because people occasionally miss pills or don’t take them consistently.
HIV – “100% effective”
This probably refers to PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis) — medications like Truvada or Descovy. When taken daily as prescribed, PrEP can reduce the risk of getting HIV from sex by up to 99%. But it’s not 100% — nothing in medicine ever truly is. It’s extremely effective if taken correctly and consistently.
Herpes – “70% effective”
This refers to daily antiviral medications, like acyclovir or valacyclovir, which are used to suppress herpes outbreaks. For people with herpes, these meds can reduce the chance of transmitting the virus to a partner by roughly 50% to 70%. They’re helpful, but again, not perfect.
Syphilis – “87% effective”
This part is not accurate. There is no medication that prevents syphilis from being contracted. It is treatable with antibiotics (typically penicillin) if caught early, but you can’t take something daily to avoid getting it in the first place.
Chlamydia – “88% effective”
Similar to syphilis — there is no daily medicine that prevents chlamydia. It’s an infection that’s treated after you get it, usually with antibiotics like azithromycin or doxycycline. So this claim isn’t supported by medical science.
Gonorrhea – “55% effective”
This may be referring to experimental use of doxycycline as post-exposure prophylaxis (Doxy-PEP). In some studies — particularly among men who have sex with men — it reduced the risk of gonorrhea by about 55% when taken shortly after sex. But this is not standard care and is still being studied. We don’t currently have a routine, approved daily medication to prevent gonorrhea.
Gonorrhea Vaccine – “51% protection”
There is no gonorrhea-specific vaccine yet. However, one vaccine designed for meningitis B (MenB) appears to provide some cross-protection, with observational studies suggesting it may reduce the risk of gonorrhea by about 31% to 51%. That’s promising, but it’s not a dedicated solution — and not currently used as a primary prevention strategy.
STD Testing Every Two Weeks
This is actually a great practice for someone at higher risk or in the sex work industry. Frequent testing (every 2 weeks) is responsible and recommended, especially if engaging in unprotected sex with multiple partners.
Showing Medicines at Booking
It’s perfectly possible for someone to show you their prescribed medications (like PrEP or antivirals). But keep in mind — seeing a pill bottle doesn’t prove the medication was taken regularly or recently. That’s just something to be aware of.
A lot of the claims in that ad are partially based in truth, but many are either exaggerated or not medically valid. It’s important not to let those numbers give a false sense of security. Medications like PrEP and antivirals are powerful tools, but they should always be part of a bigger picture: regular testing, open communication, and, yes, consistent condom use — especially with new or multiple partners.