Possible HIV exposure? Here’s what to do right now.
Take a breath. You’re not the first, and acting quickly works in your favour. Follow the steps for your situation below, then get PEP within 72 hours if you need it.
First aid for your situation
These steps don’t replace PEP, but they’re the right thing to do straight away.
Condom broke, slipped, or no condom
- Urinate and wash gently with water. Don’t douche, scrub or use harsh soaps; irritation can make things worse.
- Note the time it happened. It sets your 72-hour clock.
- If pregnancy is possible, emergency contraception works best as soon as possible, and some options work up to 5 days after.
Needlestick, cut or shared needle
- Let the wound bleed freely, then wash it with soap and running water.
- Don’t squeeze, suck or scrub it, and don’t use bleach or strong antiseptics.
- Cover it with a clean plaster. At work, report it to your supervisor straight away and note whose needle it was, if known.
Blood or body fluid in eyes, mouth or broken skin
- Eyes: rinse with clean water or saline for several minutes. Remove contact lenses first.
- Mouth: spit, then rinse with water several times. Don’t swallow.
- Skin: wash with soap and water. Splashes on unbroken skin carry very little risk.
Sexual assault
- What happened is not your fault, and you don’t have to explain anything to us.
- PEP, emergency contraception and treatment to prevent other infections are all recommended.
- You don’t have to report to the police first. A hospital or sexual assault referral centre can also help with care and support. Read more.
Get PEP, fast
- Check your risk, or just message usOur 2-minute risk checker gives a clear answer, or tell us on WhatsApp roughly when it happened and where you are.
- We confirm PEP is right for youOur team checks every order for safety before it goes out.
- Baseline HIV testA baseline test is required before PEP, unless you already know your status. You can add our rapid test kit to your order as a paid add-on, subject to availability. PEP is never delayed for testing.
- Fast, discreet deliveryWithin 3 hours in Abuja, within hours in Lagos, Ibadan, Benin, Asaba, Warri, Onitsha, Enugu, Owerri, Port Harcourt, Kaduna, Kano and Jos, and within 24 hours at the latest everywhere else.
- Take your first dose straight awayThen one tablet a day for all 28 days. We’re on WhatsApp for the whole course.
What doesn’t need PEP
HIV isn’t passed on through kissing, hugging, sharing cups, plates or toilets, sweat, or mosquito bites. Oral sex without ejaculation or blood carries a risk so low that PEP isn’t usually recommended. If you’re not sure, check your risk rather than guessing.
What people ask in the first hours
Should I squeeze a needlestick wound?
No. Let it bleed freely, then wash with soap and running water. Squeezing, sucking or using bleach doesn’t lower the risk and can damage the skin.
Can I wait to see if I feel unwell?
No. Early HIV often causes no symptoms at all, and by the time it does, the 72-hour PEP window has closed. Act on the exposure, not on symptoms.
Do I need a test before starting PEP?
A baseline HIV test is required unless you already know your status. You can add our rapid test kit to your order, subject to availability. If a kit isn’t available, PEP still goes out straight away and you test as soon as you can.
If it happened in the last 72 hours, message us now.
Tell us roughly when it happened and where you are. We reply day and night.