This page is general health information, not medical advice. It cannot tell you whether you have an infection. A clinician can, and the testing options on this site are a good place to start.

If you think you may have been exposed to HIV in the last three days, time matters, and there is a next step. It is called PEP, short for post-exposure prophylaxis. It is emergency HIV medication that a clinician prescribes after a possible exposure.

The CDC says PEP must be started as soon as possible and within 72 hours of the exposure. This guide walks you through what to gather, who to call in Atlanta, what to expect at the visit, and what comes after.

You do not need to have everything figured out. You only need to start the process.

What PEP is and why the 72-hour window matters

PEP is a short course of HIV medicine started after a possible exposure. It is meant to lower the chance that HIV takes hold. The CDC describes PEP as something for emergencies only, not for regular use.

The CDC's 72-hour window is the most important number in this guide. The sooner a clinician can start PEP inside that window, the better. If you are at hour 20 or hour 60, the advice is the same: do not wait for a better moment.

PEP is a prescription. Only a clinician can decide whether it fits your situation. That is true for every gender and orientation, and nobody at a clinic needs to hear a long explanation before they help you.

PEP is different from PrEP. PrEP is HIV prevention medicine taken before possible exposures. PEP is taken after one. If PEP is a first step for you, a clinician can also talk about whether PrEP makes sense later.

It is also different from doxy-PEP. In 2024 the CDC issued guidance on doxy-PEP, which is a way some people use a clinician-prescribed antibiotic to lower the chance of certain bacterial STIs. It does not prevent HIV. If you want to talk about both, ask the clinician.

Who might ask about PEP

The CDC says PEP is for people who may have been exposed to HIV within the past 72 hours. Examples the CDC gives include sex without a condom, sharing needles or other injection equipment, and sexual assault.

You do not have to be sure that an exposure happened. A clinician can talk through what occurred and decide whether PEP is appropriate. Describing your situation plainly helps them do that.

What you need before you go or call

You can get started with very little. This short list makes the visit faster, but do not delay care to gather it.

The time of the exposure. Your best estimate is fine. This tells the clinician how much of the 72 hours is left.
A short description of what happened. Think of the type of contact and whether any protection was used. You can say as much or as little as you are comfortable with.
A list of medicines and health conditions. Include supplements, allergies, and anything you take regularly. Clinicians check this before prescribing.
Insurance information, if you have it. The clinics below describe different payment options. Having a card handy helps, but it is not a reason to stay home.
Your phone. You will want it for reminders during the course and for follow-up appointments.
Photo ID, if you have it. Ask the clinic what it needs when you call.

Step by step: how to get PEP in Atlanta

Step 1: Note the time and act today

Write down when the exposure happened. Then count forward 72 hours so you know your deadline. The CDC window is the reason to move today instead of tomorrow.

If you are not sure about the exact time, use your best estimate and tell the clinician that it is an estimate.

Step 2: Choose where to go based on the hour

The Atlanta clinics listed below keep weekday daytime hours. If it is a night, a weekend or a holiday, a hospital emergency department is the setting that is open at any hour.

The clinic information available to us does not name which Atlanta emergency departments prescribe PEP, and it does not say how each handles it. Check with the hospital before you go, or ask at the front desk when you arrive. Say the words "I would like to ask about PEP after a possible HIV exposure." Staff will know where to send you.

You can also call the Georgia AIDS and STI InfoLine at 1-800-551-2728. The Georgia Department of Public Health lists this line on its HIV Prevention page, along with PrEP and PEP information.

Step 3: Call a clinic during business hours

These Atlanta locations offer HIV testing, STI care or PrEP. Their published information does not state whether each one gives PEP, so confirm on the phone before you travel. Ask: "Can I be seen today to talk about PEP?"

10 Park Place Health Center (Fulton County Board of Health), 10 Park Place S.E., 5th floor, Atlanta, GA 30303. Phone (770) 520-7500. The Fulton County Board of Health lists sexual health services including STI screening and treatment, HIV testing, PrEP and doxy-PEP here. Hours are Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., and the last walk-in appointment is 3:00 p.m. Fees may be set on a sliding scale for people without insurance, according to the Board of Health's Sexual Health page.
Adamsville Regional Health Center (Fulton County Board of Health), 3700 MLK Jr. Drive S.W., Atlanta, GA 30331. Phone (770) 520-7323. It lists STI screening and treatment, HIV testing and PrEP. The Board of Health says services may be walk-in or by appointment, and that appointments are recommended.
Neighborhood Union Health Center (Fulton County Board of Health), 186 Sunset Avenue N.W., Atlanta, GA 30314. Phone (770) 520-7351. It lists STI screening and treatment and PrEP. The Board of Health's own pages give different days for this location, so call to confirm hours before you go.
AID Atlanta Wellness Center, 1438 W Peachtree Street NW, Atlanta, GA 30309. Phone (404) 870-7741 for STI testing or (404) 870-7700 for general questions. AID Atlanta says HIV tests and STI testing are free and offered onsite, Monday to Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and that walk-ins are welcome.
Planned Parenthood East Atlanta Health Center, 440 Moreland Avenue SE, Atlanta, GA 30316. Phone 404-688-9300. It lists STD testing and treatment and HIV services, including PrEP. Planned Parenthood says walk-ins are welcome but only appointments guarantee service, and the hours posted can change, so call first.

For the Fulton clinics, the Board of Health says its sexual health clinics serve Fulton County residents ages 14 and up. If you are 12 to 21, the Fulton County Teen Health Clinic at Adamsville lists HIV counseling and testing and says no teen is turned away for inability to pay. Phone 770-520-7323 and ask whether PEP can be arranged.

The Fulton County Board of Health also runs a PrEP clinic at 404-613-4708. It is a good number for questions about prevention medicine after the emergency has passed.

If you live in the DeKalb part of Atlanta, DeKalb Public Health serves that area. We do not have service details for it, so check with them directly.

Step 4: Talk with the clinician about your exposure

The clinician will ask what happened and when. They are not there to judge you. They need the details to decide whether PEP fits.

The clinician may offer an HIV test before you start PEP, so there is a baseline. Starting PEP is not meant to wait on results, though, so ask how they handle this. Tell them about any other medicines, and whether you are pregnant or could be.

Step 5: Take the prescription exactly as directed

The CDC says PEP is taken for 28 days. The clinician or pharmacist will tell you which medicines you were prescribed and how to take them. This guide does not give doses or schedules, because those depend on you and on what the clinician chooses.

Ask about the first dose. Many people want to begin as soon as the prescription is in their hands. Ask the clinic whether it can give you the first medicine right there, or tell you which pharmacy can fill it today.

Set a daily phone alarm. Pair the medicine with something you do each day.

Step 6: Book follow-up testing before you leave

PEP does not end after the last pill. The CDC recommends follow-up HIV testing after a PEP course. Current CDC guidance puts those tests at about 4 to 6 weeks and again at 12 weeks after the exposure. Ask your clinician to confirm the schedule that applies to you.

It also makes sense to ask about testing for other STIs. The 2021 CDC STI Treatment Guidelines are the basis for how clinicians choose those tests. Bacterial STIs and trichomoniasis can be cured with treatment from a clinician. HIV is not curable, but it is treatable and manageable.

Free or low-cost testing in Atlanta is covered in our list of Atlanta testing locations and what they cost. The CDC's GetTested tool at gettested.cdc.gov is another way to find a site.

Tips that help

Call first if you can. A two-minute call confirms whether a location gives PEP today. It can save you a trip across town.
Say "PEP" or "post-exposure prophylaxis." Using the term helps staff route you to the right person.
Ask about cost up front. Where a price is not published, the clinic is the one who can tell you. AID Atlanta lists free testing. The Fulton County Board of Health describes sliding-scale fees for people without insurance. Planned Parenthood says insurance is not required and lists self-pay options.
Ask about side effects. Clinicians can explain what people commonly feel and what is worth calling about.
Bring a friend if it helps. Some people feel steadier with someone nearby. It is your choice.
Keep using protection and tell partners as you see fit. A clinician can advise you about what to do during the follow-up period.

Common mistakes to avoid

Waiting to see if you feel something. HIV often causes no early signs that you would notice. The 72-hour window runs regardless.
Waiting for a regular appointment. A routine slot next week may fall outside the CDC window. Ask for urgent care instead.
Going to a clinic after its last walk-in time. At 10 Park Place, for example, the last walk-in appointment is 3:00 p.m. on weekdays. Go early in the day if you can.
Stopping the course early. If side effects bother you, call the clinician instead of stopping on your own. They can often help.
Skipping the follow-up tests. The CDC ties testing to the course. Book the appointments before you leave.
Taking someone else's medicine. PEP should come from a clinician who has reviewed your case.
Being too embarrassed to ask. Clinicians hear these questions every day. You deserve care without judgment.

What to expect afterward

The CDC describes PEP as highly effective at lowering the chance of HIV when it is started promptly and taken as directed. It is not a promise for every person in every situation, which is why follow-up testing matters.

Many people feel fine on PEP. Some notice side effects such as an upset stomach or tiredness. Your clinician can tell you what to watch for and when to call.

If follow-up tests are negative, a clinician will tell you what that means for your situation. If a test is positive, HIV is treatable, and the clinic can connect you with care. Georgia requires providers to report HIV to the state within 7 days, according to the Georgia Department of Public Health. That is how the public health system tracks and supports care.

For context, the Georgia Department of Public Health reports that the Fulton Public Health District had 466 new HIV diagnoses among people age 13 and older in 2023, a rate of 50.5 per 100,000. Many people in Atlanta use prevention tools like these, and you are not the only one asking.

If you are past 72 hours

If more than 72 hours have passed, PEP is generally not the right tool, according to the CDC window. You can still get care. A clinician can talk about HIV testing at the right times, other STI testing, and whether PrEP makes sense going forward.

Free HIV testing is available at AID Atlanta, and the Fulton County Board of Health lists HIV testing at several locations. For testing at home, the CDC lists the Together TakeMeHome program for free HIV self-tests ordered online, and the Georgia Department of Public Health offers an HIV self-test by online request.

The short version

Note when the exposure happened. The CDC window is 72 hours.
Weeknight or weekend: ask a hospital emergency department about PEP. Weekday daytime: call a clinic listed above.
Describe what happened to the clinician and ask about PEP.
Take the prescription exactly as directed for the 28 days the CDC describes.
Book follow-up HIV and STI testing before you leave.

Atlanta has people ready to help with this. Call today.

PEP in Atlanta: Emergency HIV Prevention Within 72 Hours