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.

PrEP is medicine that lowers the chance of getting HIV. It is one of the most effective tools in HIV prevention, and in Austin you can reach it through several clinics, some of them at no cost to you.

This guide covers how PrEP works, who it is for, the forms it comes in, what a first visit involves, how people pay for it, and where to start in Austin. It is written for people of every gender and orientation. Nothing here replaces a conversation with a clinician, who can talk through your own situation.

Key takeaways

PrEP stands for pre-exposure prophylaxis. A clinician prescribes it to lower the chance of getting HIV.
The CDC says daily oral PrEP lowers the risk of getting HIV from sex by about 99% when taken as prescribed.
PrEP comes as a daily pill or as an injection given by a clinician. A clinician decides which fits you.
PrEP does not protect against other STIs, so testing stays part of the picture.
A PrEP start includes an HIV test, and a clinician will usually order other blood work too.
Some Austin clinics list PrEP visits and labs at no cost. Others use sliding fees or ask you to use insurance.
Texas health department funds cannot be used to buy PrEP medication, so clinics and assistance programs fill that gap.

In this guide

What PrEP is and how it works
Who PrEP is for
The kinds of PrEP
What happens at a PrEP visit
HIV PrEP cost and how to pay
Where to get PrEP in Austin
Staying well on PrEP
Sources

What PrEP Is and How It Works

PrEP is short for pre-exposure prophylaxis. "Pre-exposure" means you take it before a possible exposure to HIV. "Prophylaxis" means prevention.

The medicine works by keeping HIV from establishing itself in the body if the virus ever gets in. It only works for HIV. It does not prevent chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, herpes or HPV.

How well it works

The CDC says daily oral PrEP reduces the risk of getting HIV from sex by about 99% when it is taken as prescribed. For people who inject drugs, the CDC says it reduces the risk by at least 74%. Those numbers depend on taking the medicine as directed, which is why a clinician checks in with you over time.

No prevention method works for every person in every situation. PrEP is strongest when it is paired with regular testing and, if you choose, condoms.

What PrEP is not

PrEP is not a treatment for someone who already has HIV. HIV is not curable, but it is treatable and manageable with medicine from a clinician. The CDC says people with HIV who take their medicine as prescribed and keep an undetectable viral load cannot pass HIV to a sex partner. That is a different tool from PrEP, and both belong in the prevention picture.

PrEP is also different from PEP. PEP is post-exposure prophylaxis, medicine started after a possible exposure. The CDC says PEP must be started within 72 hours of the exposure, so if that happens, contact a clinic or emergency care right away. The CDC treats PEP as an emergency option, not a replacement for ongoing prevention.

Who PrEP Is For

PrEP is for anyone a clinician decides could benefit from it. You do not need to fit a particular label, and you do not need to justify yourself.

What the CDC says

The CDC's clinical guidance says clinicians should discuss PrEP with sexually active adults and adolescents who have had anal or vaginal sex in the past six months and who:

have a partner with HIV, especially if that partner's viral load is not suppressed,
have had a bacterial STI in the past six months, or
do not always use condoms with partners whose HIV status they do not know.

The CDC also recommends discussing PrEP with people who inject drugs and who share needles or other equipment, or who have a partner who does. The guidance adds that anyone who asks for PrEP should be able to have that conversation, even if they do not name a specific reason.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) gives PrEP a Grade A recommendation for people at increased risk of HIV. That grade matters for coverage, covered below.

Questions to bring to a clinician

Only a clinician can tell you whether PrEP fits your situation. These questions can help you start:

Have I had a new partner, or more than one partner, recently?
Do I use condoms every time, some of the time, or rarely?
Have I had an STI in the past six months?
Do I have a partner who has HIV, or whose status I do not know?
Am I trying to become pregnant, pregnant, or chest or breastfeeding?
Do I have kidney problems, or a history of hepatitis B?

Your answers help the clinician choose a form of PrEP and the right tests.

Teens and young adults in Texas

Under Texas Family Code Sec. 32.003, a minor of any age may consent to diagnosis and treatment of a reportable infectious disease. The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) states that this includes HIV. Parent or guardian consent is not required for that care.

The same statute also lets a physician tell a parent or guardian about the treatment, with or without the minor's consent. That is permitted, not required, so a clinic cannot promise that a parent will never be told. The statute covers diagnosis and treatment of reportable diseases. Ask the clinic directly how it handles PrEP for a minor and who it may contact.

The Kinds of PrEP

PrEP comes in more than one form. A clinician prescribes it, and the choice depends on your health, your routine and what is available to you. This guide does not give doses or schedules. Your prescriber will give you those in writing.

Daily oral PrEP

Daily oral PrEP is a pill taken every day. It is the longest-established form. It works best when taken consistently, and the CDC says it takes time after starting for the medicine to reach protective levels in the body. Ask your clinician how long that takes for your type of exposure, and whether to use condoms in the meantime.

The CDC notes that some people have mild side effects when starting, such as nausea or headache, that usually ease with time. Tell your clinician if anything bothers you. Do not stop on your own without asking.

On-demand PrEP (sometimes called 2-1-1)

You may hear about "on-demand" or "event-driven" PrEP, sometimes called 2-1-1. It means taking the medicine around sex rather than every day. It has been studied in men who have sex with men, and it is not an FDA-approved way to use PrEP. The research does not cover other groups well enough to say it works for them.

Because this approach depends on careful timing, it is a decision to make with a clinician rather than on your own. If daily pills are hard to keep up, the injectable form below may be worth asking about.

Injectable PrEP

Injectable PrEP is given by a clinician at the clinic instead of a pill you take at home. The CDC includes injectable PrEP among the options clinicians can prescribe. Some people prefer it because there is no daily pill to remember.

Injectables require clinic visits for the injection and for follow-up testing. CommUnityCare says on its PrEP page that it offers injectable PrEP with or without insurance. Ask any clinic you contact whether it offers the injectable form and what its follow-up process looks like.

PrEP and the rest of the prevention toolbox

PrEP is one tool among several. Condoms help prevent HIV and many other STIs. Vaccines help protect against HPV and hepatitis A and B. In 2024 the CDC issued guidance on doxy-PEP, an antibiotic a clinician may prescribe after sex to lower the chance of certain bacterial STIs for some groups, namely men who have sex with men and transgender women who have had a bacterial STI in the past year. CommUnityCare lists doxy-PEP among its sexual health services. Kind Clinic says doxy-PEP is not offered as a standalone appointment, and that you must be receiving ongoing care there.

What Happens at a PrEP Visit

A first PrEP visit is a health visit like any other. A clinician asks questions, orders tests and explains the plan. You are not judged for your answers, and the information is there so the clinician can choose the safest option.

The conversation

Expect questions about your health history, any medicines you take, your sexual health and your goals. Be as open as you feel able. The clinician is not looking for a reason to say no.

The tests

The CDC's PrEP guidance describes several tests around starting:

An HIV test. PrEP is for people who do not have HIV, so a test comes first. If a test shows HIV, a clinician will explain next steps and treatment, which is a different course of medicine.
Kidney function. This is checked for people starting oral PrEP.
Hepatitis B. The CDC recommends checking hepatitis B status, since it affects medicine choice.
STI screening. This commonly includes syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia, depending on the sites of possible exposure.

Results are reviewed with you. The clinic may be able to do some tests the same day. Others come back later.

How HIV test timing works

Tests find HIV at different points after exposure. The CDC says a lab antigen/antibody test on blood from a vein can usually detect HIV 18 to 45 days after exposure. A rapid antigen/antibody test using a finger stick takes longer, usually 18 to 90 days, and the CDC says HIV self-tests take about 23 to 90 days. If you had a recent possible exposure, tell the clinician. They may suggest a different test or a repeat.

Follow-up

Once you start, the CDC guideline describes follow-up visits about every three months. Those visits repeat HIV testing, review side effects, check how things are going, and screen for STIs. This steady rhythm is part of what makes PrEP safe.

HIV PrEP Cost and How to Pay

The cost of PrEP in Austin depends on the clinic, your insurance and your income. Several local options list visits, labs or medication at low or no cost. Prices can change, so confirm with the clinic before you go.

Insurance and the ACA

The Affordable Care Act requires most private health plans to cover services that the USPSTF rates Grade A or B without cost sharing. PrEP carries a Grade A recommendation from the USPSTF. That generally means that, if you have a plan that follows these rules, you should not be charged a copay for PrEP itself. Some plans may still bill for related visits or labs, and some plans are exempt. Call the number on your insurance card and ask what is covered. Medicaid and Medicare rules differ, so ask the plan or the clinic.

If you use a parent's or partner's plan, remember that insurers can send an explanation of benefits to the policyholder. If privacy matters, ask the clinic about options before you enroll.

What Texas does and does not provide

Texas DSHS says it does not run its own PrEP medication assistance program. Its PrEP page points people to manufacturer assistance programs, patient assistance foundations, PrEP navigators and a DSHS PrEP Directory of providers. DSHS also states that its HIV/STD funds cannot be used to buy PrEP medications. That is why local clinics matter so much.

The DSHS PrEP Directory is at dshs.texas.gov/hivstd/prep/providers, and the general DSHS PrEP page is at dshs.texas.gov/hivstd/prep.

What Austin clinics say about cost

Clinic	What it says about PrEP cost
ASHwell Sexual Health + Wellness	PrEP office visits and labs are listed at $0 out-of-pocket. Almost all medications are zero-cost regardless of insurance status.
CommUnityCare Health Centers	Oral PrEP is on its Medical Access Program formulary, low or no cost for those who qualify. Injectable PrEP is available with or without insurance. Fees for visits follow a sliding fee scale set in a meeting with a Financial Eligibility Specialist.
Kind Clinic	The Kind Patient Assistance Program and Kind Advocates help patients get medications at little to no cost. Since January 1, 2024, patients with health insurance must use it to cover lab work. If you are uninsured or cannot afford lab costs, the program can help cover them.
Vivent Health Austin	Offers PrEP. The first visit includes HIV and STI testing, blood work and a same-day prescription. The page does not list a PrEP price, so ask the clinic.

These descriptions come from each organization's own pages. If a price or program is not listed, that does not mean it is free or unavailable. Call and ask.

Where to Get PrEP in Austin

Several Austin organizations prescribe PrEP or help you find a prescriber. Hours and services can change, so confirm by phone first.

ASHwell Sexual Health + Wellness

ASHwell is a nonprofit at 3100 Red River St, Suite 3, Austin, TX 78705. It lists counseling, testing, diagnosis and treatment of STIs, plus PrEP and PEP. Its services page says these services are always free, although there can be costs related to medication. ASHwell says it does not currently accept walk-ins. Call (512) 900-3116 or email [email protected] to arrange a visit. Its services page also says STI treatment is only for ASHwell patients.

CommUnityCare Health Centers

CommUnityCare is a federally qualified health center. Its IDEALhealth Program at the Hancock Health Center, 1000 E. 41st St., Suite 700, Austin, TX 78751, lists STI and HIV testing and prevention, doxy-PEP and sexual health vaccines, including HPV, hepatitis A and B and mpox. Call 512-978-9015. CommUnityCare says it offers PrEP, PEP and HIV care across the organization, with HIV appointments at 512-978-9100. That page does not say these are IDEALhealth-specific, so ask which location offers what you need.

Kind Clinic

Kind Clinic, run by Texas Health Action, has two Austin locations and one phone number, 833-937-5463.

Austin Koenig, 101 W Koenig Lane, Ste 100, Austin, TX 78751. It lists testing for gonorrhea, syphilis, chlamydia, HIV and hepatitis C, plus PrEP and PEP. Walk-in testing is offered here. Posted hours are Monday, Tuesday and Friday 9:00am to 5:00pm, Wednesday and Thursday 9:00am to 8:00pm, and certain Saturdays 9:00am to 2:00pm. Walk-in testing hours differ.
Austin South, 2800 S IH 35 Frontage Rd #103, Fountain Plaza III, Austin, TX 78704. Kind Clinic lists PrEP and PEP for the organization as a whole and says walk-in STI testing is not offered at South Austin.

Kind Clinic says it is closed on all observed holidays and the first Friday of every month.

Vivent Health Austin

Vivent Health is a nonprofit at 104 E. Highland Mall Blvd, Suite 100, Austin, TX 78752. It lists PrEP, HIV testing, rapid HIV testing and hepatitis C testing. Vivent says it offers free and confidential HIV testing at all of its locations. Call (512) 458-2437 for walk-in testing hours or to make an appointment.

Austin Public Health Sexual Health Clinic

Austin Public Health runs a Sexual Health Clinic at the RBJ Health Center, 15 Waller Street, Austin, TX 78702. It is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 to 5 p.m. The clinic's page says the fee for testing and treatment is $30. Its standard tests are HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia, and it can test for genital herpes only if you have active symptoms. The page does not list PrEP among its services. To schedule, book online or call 512-972-5430. The health department's site notes that content updates may be delayed, so confirm hours and fees by phone.

Austin Public Health's HIV page also describes a Red Ribbon program with free HIV counseling and testing for people without symptoms, including a free 20-minute walk-in express testing service. Schedule at 512-972-5430. The page does not state the location.

UT Austin students

University Health Services at the Student Services Building, 100 West Dean Keeton Street, Room 1.400, serves UT Austin students. Its drop-in STI testing clinic lists chlamydia, gonorrhea, HIV and syphilis, and drop-in is for people without symptoms. Call 512-471-4955. The page does not list PrEP, so ask the clinic.

Free testing you can do from home

Test for Texas, run by Texas DSHS, offers free mail-order self-testing for HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia at dshs.texas.gov/hivstd/testing/sct. Together TakeMeHome, which is CDC-funded, mails free HIV self-tests to anyone 17 or older living in the U.S. Vivent Health's depot lists free at-home HIV test kits for Austin residents. A self-test can be a first step, and a clinician can walk you through what the result means and what comes next.

Staying Well on PrEP

PrEP works best as part of regular sexual health care. That includes testing, vaccines and honest check-ins with a clinician.

Keep testing for other STIs

PrEP does not stop other infections, and rates of some are higher in Travis County than in the state overall. Using Texas DSHS surveillance report figures for 2022, Travis County had 712.6 chlamydia cases per 100,000 people (9,452 cases) compared with 519.9 for Texas. Gonorrhea was 351.4 per 100,000 (4,661 cases) compared with 207.0 statewide. Primary and secondary syphilis was 31.5 per 100,000 (418 cases) compared with 15.5 statewide.

For HIV, the DSHS 2021 HIV Surveillance Report lists 17.3 new diagnoses per 100,000 people in Travis County (226 cases), compared with 14.8 for Texas. Numbers like these describe a population, not any one person. They are a reminder that regular screening is a normal part of health care in Austin.

Chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and trichomoniasis are curable with treatment from a clinician. HIV, herpes and HPV are not curable, but they are treatable or manageable. For a full list of local options, see our guide to free and low-cost STD and HIV testing in Austin. You can also search for a site on the CDC's testing locator at gettested.cdc.gov.

Partners and notifying

If you test positive for an STI, a clinician can talk through how to tell partners. CDC says Texas allows expedited partner therapy, which lets a clinician prescribe treatment for partners of an established patient. Texas has no EPT statute. Instead, Texas Medical Board and pharmacy rules allow it, and CDC's Texas entry refers to sexually transmitted diseases generally. Ask your clinician what applies in your case.

Texas DSHS lists chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and HIV as notifiable conditions, so labs and clinicians report cases to public health. Those reports are used for tracking and follow-up, and a clinic can explain how your information is handled.

If you are pregnant or planning to be

Texas Health and Safety Code Sec. 81.090 sets syphilis, HIV and hepatitis B testing during pregnancy, including at the first prenatal visit and again in the third trimester. Tell your prenatal clinician if you are using PrEP or want to talk about it, since medicine choices matter during pregnancy.

Stopping or pausing PrEP

Some people use PrEP for a season of life and stop when circumstances change. Talk to your prescriber before you stop so you know what testing and prevention steps to follow afterward. If you restart later, expect to repeat the HIV test.

Common questions

Will anyone know I am on PrEP? Clinics keep medical information private under health privacy law, but insurance statements and parent involvement for minors can be exceptions. Ask the clinic what it sends and to whom.

Can I get PrEP without insurance? Several Austin organizations above list free or low-cost paths. Call and ask what you need to bring.

Does PrEP replace condoms? No. Condoms help prevent other STIs that PrEP does not.

What if I miss doses? Tell your clinician. They can explain what to do and whether to test.

A simple way to start

Pick a clinic from the list above and call to ask about PrEP, wait times and cost.
Ask what to bring, such as ID or an insurance card, and whether you can use a sliding fee scale.
Go to your first visit for questions and tests.
Set up follow-up visits and add reminders to your phone.

PrEP in Austin: How to Get It, What It Costs and Who It Is For