what to do after unprotected sex to prevent hiv

If the sex was within the last 72 hours, go to urgent care, a sexual health clinic, or an ER now and ask about PEP ; it can lower the chance of HIV infection if started as soon as possible and no later than 72 hours after exposure. HIV prevention guidance also recommends follow-up testing and, for future protection, considering PrEP if you may have ongoing risk.

What to do now

1. Get PEP immediately if you may have been exposed to HIV. It works best when started quickly, ideally within hours, and it is generally not recommended after 72 hours.

2. Do not douche or rinse internally. Simple washing of the outside is fine, but douching can irritate tissue and may increase infection risk.

3. Arrange HIV and STI testing. A clinician can tell you the right testing schedule based on the exposure and whether PEP is started.

4. If pregnancy is also a concern, ask about emergency contraception. Some options also have time limits, so it helps to act quickly.

5. Use condoms or avoid sex until you’ve been assessed. This helps reduce any chance of passing on or catching an infection while you’re waiting to be seen.

When to get help

• Immediately, today: if the partner’s HIV status is positive or unknown, the sex was vaginal or anal, there was ejaculation, blood exposure, a condom broke, or the exposure was forced.

• Urgently, even if you feel fine: HIV exposure usually has no immediate symptoms, so waiting for symptoms is not a safe strategy.

Practical next step

If you want, I can help you figure out whether PEP is still in the time window and what kind of clinic to look for based on how long ago this happened.