I had sex without a condom and I'm worried I might have HIV, what should I do?

The only sure way to know your status is to get an HIV test. You can buy an HIV home test kit at a pharmacy, go see your regular medical provider, or drop into a local HIV testing site: https://gettested.cdc.gov/ HIV antibody tests take 3-6 weeks to turn positive after someone gets infected with HIV. If the sex without a condom was less than 3-6 weeks ago, you can talk to your provider about getting an HIV RNA test instead of an HIV antibody test. The HIV RNA test becomes positive 10-14 days after someone gets infected with HIV.

How safe is barebacking if the partner withdraws before ejaculating?

Dipping - being penetrated or penetrating without ejaculation (cumming) - is a common practice.  Herpes, gonorrhea, chlamydia and syphilis infections can all be transmitted without any cum present. HIV is found in pre-cum and could be transmitted even without full ejaculation. The risk of transmitting HIV without ejaculation is definitely lower than with ejaculation because there is less virus, but there is still some risk involved.  It can also be hard to tell if your partner starts to cum before he pulls out.

I've been treated for Chlamydia but it keeps coming back. Why is this happening?

Chlamydia is usually curable with the correct treatment. Most persons who get repeat infections get them from untreated partners so its really important to make sure your partners are treated. Occasionally, the treatment for chlamydia is unsuccessful. If you test positive for chlamydia more than 21 days after you've been treated, and have not had sexual contact with anyone since treatment, talk to your provider about trying a different antibiotic treatment.

Is it possible for a person to clear their body of Chlamydia without treatment?

Yes, over time the immune system in some people can clear chlamydia infection, but most people need to take antibiotic medication to get rid of it. Untreated chlaymdia infection can cause serious health issues —such as sterility, pain, and pregnancy outside the womb. In addition, if you have chlaymdia, you can pass it on to your sex partners even if you don't have any symptoms. Getting re-infected with chlamydia after treatment is common, so be sure that your partners know about the infection and get treated too.

I lost my job and my insurance. Is it possible to get PrEP if you're uninsured?

Yes! There are many ways to access PrEP if you're uninsured. Visit PleasePrEPMe.org to find a provider near you. There are also patient assistance programs to help you cover the cost of the medication. If you're in San Francisco, walk-in to SF City Clinic or call us at 415-437-5537 for more info on our PrEP program clinic.

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