PEP is emergency HIV prevention after a possible exposure: daily antiretroviral pills for 28 days, and it must start within 72 hours - sooner is better, per the CDC, which says talk right away to a provider, ER doctor, or urgent care.
Covered exposures: unprotected sex with a positive or unknown-status partner, a broken condom in that situation, shared injection equipment, sexual assault. Expect an HIV test at the visit, then the 28-day course with follow-up testing. PEP is not a substitute for ongoing prevention - repeated exposures belong on PrEP. Do not wait for Monday: emergency rooms stock it.
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Common questions
What is PEP and how fast do I need it?
PEP - post-exposure prophylaxis - is emergency HIV prevention taken after a possible exposure: a daily course of antiretroviral medicine for 28 days that can stop the virus from establishing infection, per the CDC. The clock is the whole story: PEP must be started within 72 hours (3 days) of the exposure, and effectiveness drops with every hour of delay - the CDC's instruction is to talk right away to a health care provider, an emergency room doctor, or an urgent care. The exposures it covers: unprotected sex with someone whose HIV status is positive or unknown, a broken condom in that situation, shared injection equipment, and sexual assault. The process: an HIV test at the visit (PEP is for people who are currently negative), the 28-day course with follow-up testing, and side effects that are usually manageable nausea and fatigue. Two things PEP is not, per the CDC: a substitute for ongoing prevention - people with repeated exposures belong on PrEP instead - and a guarantee, which is why the follow-up tests matter. Do not wait for Monday: emergency rooms stock it. Pymander, a free AI doctor available 24/7 by text, can help you find where to go right now.