HIV, STD, and Hepatitis Branch

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• Does PEP have side effects?
  • PEP is safe but may cause side effects like nausea in some people. These side effects can be treated and are not life-threatening.
     
• How do I get PEP
  • Since PEP must be started within 72 hours after exposure, you must visit a healthcare provider as soon as possible.
  • The County of San Diego STD Clinics at the Central, North Coastal and South locations can provide PEP through a patient assistance program, which only accepts uninsured or under-insured patients. If you need assistance, during clinic hours you can call the PEP Warm Line at (619) 692-5500.
     
• What if I need PEP outside of clinic hours (evenings/weekends/holidays)?

  If your exposure occurs on an evening, weekend, or holiday, hospital emergency rooms are equipped to start you on PEP. If you have health insurance, reaching out to your healthcare provider would be recommended. Other resources include:

  • Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest
    • Some clinics are open on Saturdays.
    • Make an Appointment
    • Learn more: Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest
      • Call: 1-888-743-7526
      • Visit: Find a Planned Parenthood Health Center
         

  • Family Health Centers of San Diego—The Night Clinic at Hillcrest Family Health Center
    • The Night Clinic at Hillcrest offers evening hours from 5pm-9pm: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday 
    • Learn more: The Night Clinic
      • Clinic address: 4094 4^th Avenue, San Diego, CA 92103
      • Call: (619) 515-2545
         
• How much does PEP cost or is PEP free?
  • PEP is covered by many private insurance plans and by Medi-Cal. If you do not have health insurance, your health care provider can apply for free PEP medicines through the medication assistance programs run by the manufacturers. 
     
• What happens after I complete PEP?
  • After you finish taking PEP, it is important to follow-up with your health care provider and get tested again for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
     
• What else can I do to protect myself from HIV?
  • Today, more tools than ever are available to prevent HIV. There are medicines that, if taken as directed, are very effective at preventing HIV. Using one of these medications on a regular basis is known as pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP.
  • You can also use strategies to reduce your risk such as abstinence (not having sex), never sharing needles or equipment to inject drugs, and using condoms every time you have sex.
  • Knowing the HIV status of your partner(s) can also help you take care of yourself. People who are living with HIV can take medicine to stay healthy and protect others.  
    • HIV treatment reduces the amount of HIV in the blood and can make the viral load so low that a test can’t detect it (undetectable viral load).
    • People living with HIV who are on HIV treatment and have been “undetectable” for at least six months cannot transmit HIV through sex (Undetectable = Untransmittable, or U=U). 
    • For more information, visit the National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases' HIV Undetectable = Untransmittable or Treatment as Prevention page.
       
• What if I still have questions?
  • Call our PEP Warm Line at (619) 692-5500 for more information or further assistance.