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 a way to lower the chance of getting HIV before an exposure happens. In Chicago, it is offered at city sexual health clinics, a county health system clinic, community health centers and, since 2025, through trained pharmacists under a statewide standing order.

This guide explains how PrEP works, who it is meant for, the types available, what the first visit involves, and how people in Chicago pay for it. It also points to free and low-cost places to start. Nothing here is a diagnosis or a substitute for a conversation with a clinician, who can look at your own health and your own situation.

Key takeaways

The CDC says daily oral PrEP lowers the risk of getting HIV from sex by about 99% when taken as prescribed, and by at least 74% among people who inject drugs.
PrEP is prescribed by a clinician after an HIV test and a few other lab checks. It comes as pills or as an injection.
Three Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) sexual health clinics offer PrEP by appointment. Howard Brown Health and the Ruth M. Rothstein CORE Center also offer it, with sliding fee options.
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) runs PrEP4Illinois, a medication assistance program, and a statewide standing order lets people get PrEP from a trained pharmacist.
The US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) gives PrEP an A grade for people at increased risk, and the Affordable Care Act (ACA) preventive rules mean many plans cover it. Check your own plan for details.
PrEP protects against HIV only. It does not protect against other sexually transmitted infections, so regular STI testing still matters.

In this guide

What PrEP is and how it works
Who PrEP is for
Types of PrEP: daily, on-demand and injectable
What the visit and lab tests involve
How to get PrEP in Chicago
What PrEP costs and ways to pay
Staying on PrEP, STI testing and related options
Common questions

What PrEP is and how it works

PrEP stands for pre-exposure prophylaxis. "Pre-exposure" means you take it before a possible exposure to HIV. "Prophylaxis" means prevention. It is a medicine a clinician prescribes to a person who does not have HIV, to lower the chance of getting it.

How the medicine works

HIV needs to copy itself inside the body's cells to take hold. PrEP medicines keep enough medicine in the body to block that process if the virus enters. That is why timing and consistency matter. The medicine works best when it is already in your system.

How well it works

The CDC reports that PrEP reduces the risk of getting HIV from sex by about 99% when taken as prescribed. For people who inject drugs, the CDC reports a reduction of at least 74%. The key phrase is "as prescribed." Protection is lower when doses are missed, which is one reason clinicians check in with patients regularly.

What PrEP does not do

PrEP does not treat HIV, and it does not prevent chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, herpes, HPV or other infections. People who use PrEP often pair it with condoms, regular STI testing and vaccines, depending on what fits their life. A clinician can talk through the options without judgment.

PrEP and PEP are different

PrEP is taken before a possible exposure. PEP, post-exposure prophylaxis, is started after one, and it has to begin quickly. If you think you were exposed to HIV in the last few days, see our guide to PEP in Chicago and emergency HIV prevention within 72 hours. A clinician can also explain how people move from PEP to PrEP when ongoing prevention makes sense.

Who PrEP is for

PrEP is meant for people who do not have HIV and who may be exposed to it. It is not tied to any gender, orientation or relationship style. Anyone can ask a clinician about it, and the decision is made together.

What the CDC describes

The CDC's clinical guidance for PrEP says clinicians should discuss and offer it to adults and adolescents who are sexually active and:

have a partner with HIV, especially when the partner's HIV is not well controlled, or
have had a bacterial STI, such as syphilis, gonorrhea or chlamydia, in the past six months, or
have had anal or vaginal sex in the past six months and do not always use condoms, in a place or among partners where HIV is more common.

The CDC also recommends PrEP be discussed with people who inject drugs, including people who share needles or other injection equipment, or who have been in a treatment program for injection drug use.

The USPSTF, an independent panel of national experts, recommends that clinicians offer PrEP to people at increased risk of getting HIV. It gives this an A grade, its highest rating.

Not on that list?

These lists are a starting point. Some people want PrEP because they have a new partner, because they feel more at ease with an extra layer of protection, or because they are trying to conceive with a partner who has HIV. A clinician can talk through your situation. Asking is never a problem, and clinicians do not need you to explain your private life in detail to start the conversation.

Younger people

Illinois law, in the Consent by Minors to Health Care Services Act (410 ILCS 210/4), says a minor age 12 or older who may have come into contact with a sexually transmitted disease can consent to care or counseling related to prevention, diagnosis or treatment. Parental consent is not required. The law also says providers should make reasonable efforts to involve family if they believe it will not be harmful, and that each STD incident must be reported to public health. Because rules and clinic policies can differ in practice, young people should ask the clinic how it handles consent and privacy. Howard Brown's Broadway Youth Center, which serves ages 12 to 24 according to the Howard Brown site, is one place to ask.

Types of PrEP: daily, on-demand and injectable

There are three approaches people ask about. Which one is offered depends on your health, your lab results, your preferences and what your clinician or plan supports. Only a clinician can prescribe PrEP, and any directions for taking it come from them.

Daily oral PrEP

This is the form the CDC's guidance is built around. It is a pill taken every day, made of one or two medicines. Clinicians choose between options based on things like kidney health, bone health, and the type of exposure being prevented. Your clinician will explain which is right for you and how it should be taken.

Most people tolerate it well. Some report mild stomach upset or headache at first that often eases. Your clinician will tell you what to watch for and when to call.

On-demand PrEP, sometimes called 2-1-1

On-demand PrEP means taking oral PrEP around the time of sex instead of every day. It is often called "2-1-1" after the way it is timed. In research, it has been studied mainly in men who have sex with men. It is not the approach the CDC's PrEP guidance lays out for general use, and it is not approved by the FDA for this purpose. The CDC's guidance is based on daily use.

Some clinicians do discuss it for particular people in the group where it was studied. If it interests you, ask a clinician whether it could fit your situation. Do not start it on your own, since the details of timing matter and a clinician can explain them for you.

Injectable PrEP

Injectable PrEP is given by a clinician as a shot rather than taken as a pill, so there is no daily pill to remember. It can suit people who find pills hard to keep up with or who prefer fewer touchpoints with medication. It does require visits to a clinic for the injections and regular lab checks.

IDPH says PrEP4Illinois covers an injectable option after a provider submits a pre-approval form. Ask your clinic whether it offers injections and how scheduling works there. Not every site does, and availability can change.

How to choose

People often ask which is best. There is no single answer. A few questions can help you and your clinician decide:

Is it easier for you to take a pill regularly, or to go in for a shot?
Do you have kidney or bone concerns, or other medicines that matter?
What does your insurance or assistance program cover?
Do you want to avoid something that sits in your routine, or something that has fewer clinic visits?

What the visit and lab tests involve

A first PrEP visit is mostly a conversation plus some blood and urine tests. Knowing what to expect can make it easier to book.

Before you start

According to the CDC's PrEP guidance, a clinician will usually:

Test for HIV. PrEP is for people who do not have HIV. A test confirms that before the prescription is written. Taking PrEP medicine while HIV is present and untreated can cause problems, which is why the test comes first.
Check kidney function. A blood test shows how well your kidneys filter, which matters for choosing a medicine.
Test for hepatitis B. Some PrEP medicines also act on hepatitis B, so clinicians check status and offer vaccination if it is useful.
Offer STI testing. The CDC recommends screening for STIs such as syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia based on sites of exposure. Depending on your situation, this can include throat and rectal swabs.
Ask about pregnancy and breastfeeding plans, when relevant.
Talk about how to take it, side effects, and what to do if you miss doses.

Some sites offer a rapid HIV test with results at the visit. Others send blood to a lab and call you. Ask when you book, so you know whether a prescription can start the same day.

Follow-up visits

The CDC describes follow-up with HIV testing about every three months for people on oral PrEP, along with checks on how the medicine is working for you and on STI testing. Follow-up for injectable PrEP follows its own schedule, which your clinic will explain. These visits are also the time to ask questions, adjust your plan, or stop if you no longer need PrEP.

Privacy and reporting

Under Illinois rules (77 Ill. Adm. Code Part 693), health care professionals must report HIV infection, syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia and some other infections to public health within seven days of diagnosis or treatment. In Chicago, those reports go to the local health department. That applies to cases of infection, not to being on PrEP. Ask your clinic how your records are kept and who can see them.

One more point on law. Illinois repealed its HIV-specific criminal transmission statute (720 ILCS 5/12-5.01) in 2021, through Public Act 102-168, according to the Illinois General Assembly.

How to get PrEP in Chicago

You have several routes. All of them begin with HIV testing and a conversation with a licensed clinician or pharmacist. Details below come from each organization's own published pages. Hours and services change, so call before you go.

Chicago Department of Public Health sexual health clinics

CDPH runs Sexual Health Specialty Clinics that offer STD testing, HIV testing, treatment and PrEP services by appointment. CDPH says care is provided regardless of ability to pay or insurance status. It asks insured patients to bring an insurance card. Its page says to call for an appointment, that limited walk-ins are available, that clinics close from 12 to 1 pm daily and on City holidays, and to call to verify hours.

Clinic	Address	Phone	Hours listed by CDPH
Lakeview North Clark Street Health Clinic	2849 N. Clark St., 1st Fl.	312.744.5507	Mon, Wed, Fri 8:00 am to 4:00 pm; Tue, Thu 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Austin West Division Street Health Hub	4909 W. Division St., Suite 411	312.746.4871	Tue 9:00 am to 5:00 pm; Wed, Fri 8:00 am to 4:00 pm
Roseland East 115th Street Health Hub	200 E. 115th St., 1.5 fl.	312.747.1090	Mon, Fri 8:00 am to 4:00 pm; Thu 9:00 am to 5:00 pm

CDPH's sexual health services page has the current details: Chicago Department of Public Health sexual health services.

Howard Brown Health

Howard Brown Health is a nonprofit health center. Its walk-in sexual health clinic lists HIV testing, rapid HIV testing, syphilis, chlamydia, gonorrhea and hepatitis testing, treatment, PEP and PrEP. The page says no appointment is needed and that patients are seen first come, first served. Howard Brown describes the walk-in clinic as quick and low-cost, and it has a Sliding Fee Discount Program based on income and family size. The phone number for all three sites is 773.388.1600.

Howard Brown Health Sheridan, 4025 N. Sheridan Rd., Chicago, IL 60613
Howard Brown Health 63rd St., 641 W. 63rd St., Chicago, IL 60621
Broadway Youth Center, 1023 W. Irving Park Road, Chicago, IL 60613

Howard Brown offers doxy-PEP by appointment, not as a walk-in service, according to its site. More on doxy-PEP is in a later section. Details are on the Howard Brown walk-in sexual health clinic page.

Ruth M. Rothstein CORE Center, Cook County Health

The CORE Center at 2020 W. Harrison St., Chicago, IL 60612 runs a walk-in STI screening clinic. Cook County Health says same-day HIV and STI services are provided, and that to reach the walk-in clinic you can call Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 3:30 pm, at 312-572-4700. Appointments go through the Access Line at 312-572-4500. CDC's GetTested listing for the site notes insurance, Medicaid and Medicare accepted, PrEP for the uninsured, and a sliding scale. The county's page is the Cook County Health HIV program page.

Planned Parenthood of Illinois, Rogers Park

CDC's GetTested locator lists the Rogers Park Health Center at 5725 N Broadway, Chicago, IL 60660, phone (773) 942-7193, with STD testing, HIV testing, rapid HIV testing and an HPV vaccine. The listing says an appointment is required and does not list PrEP among its services, so ask the center directly whether PrEP is available.

Pharmacists

On April 22, 2025, IDPH announced a statewide PrEP standing order. It means people in Illinois can get PrEP directly from a trained pharmacist, without first needing a doctor's prescription. Not every pharmacy takes part, so call ahead and ask whether a trained pharmacist is on site. The pharmacist will still go over your health history and the lab work the CDC describes.

Your own clinician

Primary care clinicians, OB-GYNs and urgent care teams can prescribe PrEP. If yours does not, they can refer you. You do not need to be part of any particular community to ask.

What PrEP costs and ways to pay

Cost is the question many people ask first. The honest answer is that it depends on your insurance, your clinic and the type of PrEP. Costs have three parts: the medicine, the visits and the lab tests. Here is what published sources say.

Insurance and the ACA preventive rules

The USPSTF A grade matters for coverage. Under the ACA, most private plans must cover services that carry an A or B grade from the USPSTF without cost sharing, such as a copay or deductible. That is the basis for many plans covering PrEP and related visits and labs at no charge to the member. Plans can differ, including grandfathered plans, and coverage details such as which drug is on the formulary can vary. Call the number on your insurance card and ask what applies to PrEP, labs and visits.

Medicaid and Medicare have their own rules. CDC's GetTested listing says the CORE Center accepts both.

If you are uninsured or underinsured

CDPH clinics. CDPH says care is provided regardless of ability to pay or insurance status. Its page does not say whether the visit is free, so ask when you call.
Howard Brown Health. A Sliding Fee Discount Program based on income and family size. Howard Brown's financial assistance page has the details.
CORE Center. CDC's GetTested listing notes a sliding scale and PrEP for the uninsured.

PrEP4Illinois

PrEP4Illinois, also written PrEP4IL, is IDPH's PrEP medication assistance program. IDPH says it covers brand and generic versions of the two common oral PrEP medicines, and it covers an injectable form after a provider completes a pre-approval form. It does not cover provider injection fees. To enroll, you need documentation of Illinois residency dated within 90 days and proof of any insurance.

The helpline is 1-833-773-7445 (1-833-PREP4IL). The program's email is [email protected], and its website is www.PrEPforIllinois.com. Details are on the IDPH PrEP page.

What to ask about cost

Whether you are calling a clinic or an insurer, a short list helps:

What will the visit cost, and does that include lab work?
Is the HIV test, kidney test and STI testing covered?
Which PrEP medicines are covered, and is a prior approval needed?
Is there a sliding fee, and what paperwork is needed?
Does PrEP4IL cover the version I am being offered?

The sources above do not publish dollar amounts, so we do not list any. Ask each clinic or plan for current figures.

Staying on PrEP, STI testing and related options

Taking PrEP consistently

Protection depends on following the plan your clinician gives you. Many people link the medicine to something already in their day. If you miss doses, tell your clinician without worry. It is common, and they can help you adjust. Do not stop or change anything without talking to them first.

Why STI testing still matters

PrEP prevents HIV only. Other infections are common in Chicago. IDPH data show a chlamydia rate of 1,023.7 per 100,000 people in the City of Chicago in 2022 (27,596 cases), and a gonorrhea rate of 459.3 per 100,000 (12,382 cases). For comparison, CDC's 2023 report lists Illinois at 557.7 per 100,000 for chlamydia and 202.3 for gonorrhea. These are different years and the city numbers use 2010 Census population, so they should not be compared directly. They do show why regular testing is part of PrEP care.

Syphilis is part of this picture too. IDPH reported 806 primary and secondary syphilis cases in Chicago in 2022, a rate of 29.9 per 100,000. Syphilis, chlamydia and gonorrhea are curable with treatment from a clinician. Many STIs have no symptoms, so testing is the way to find out. A clinician can explain which tests fit your situation and how often.

For a rundown of where to get tested in the city, see our guide to STD testing in Chicago, where to get tested and what it costs, or browse the local testing list. You can also use the CDC's locator at gettested.cdc.gov.

Treating a partner

Illinois permits expedited partner therapy, where a clinician may provide treatment for a partner of a person treated for chlamydia, gonorrhea or trichomoniasis, according to the CDC's legal status page for Illinois. The statute limits it to partners exposed within the previous 60 days and requires counseling and IDPH written materials for the partner. It does not cover syphilis. Ask your clinician if this applies to you.

Doxy-PEP

In 2024, the CDC issued guidance on doxycycline taken after sex to lower the risk of some bacterial STIs (syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia) in certain groups. This is called doxy-PEP. It is prescribed by a clinician and is separate from HIV PrEP. IDPH lists doxy-PEP guidance and a fact sheet on its STD page, and Howard Brown offers it by appointment. Ask a clinician whether it fits your situation.

Pregnancy and syphilis screening

If you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, tell your PrEP clinician. Illinois law (410 ILCS 320/1) requires syphilis testing at a person's first prenatal exam and again in the third trimester, between 27 and 32 weeks. The law exempts a woman who objects on religious grounds.

Home HIV testing

Erie Family Health Centers, a Chicago nonprofit health center, offers a free rapid HIV test kit by online request or by phone at 312-386-6344. It is for Illinois residents 17 or older, and it tests for HIV only, not other STIs. A home test does not replace the lab work and clinician visit that PrEP requires, and a clinician can tell you what a result means. The sources reviewed do not list a state or city mail-order program for free HIV or STI home tests, so check with CDPH or IDPH for anything new.

Stopping PrEP

People start and stop PrEP as their lives change. Talk to your clinician before stopping, and ask what to do if you want to restart later. They can tell you whether new testing is needed first.

Common questions

Do I need to be a certain gender or orientation to use PrEP?

No. PrEP is for anyone who may be exposed to HIV and whose clinician agrees it is a good fit. People of every gender and orientation use it.

Do I need a prescription?

Usually yes, from a clinician. In Illinois, a statewide standing order also allows a trained pharmacist to provide PrEP directly, according to IDPH.

Can I get PrEP the same day?

Sometimes. It depends on how quickly your HIV test and other labs come back and on how the clinic works. Ask when you book. Howard Brown lists a walk-in sexual health clinic, and the CORE Center says same-day HIV and STI services are provided.

Is PrEP free in Chicago?

Not always, and it is not the same everywhere. CDPH says care is provided regardless of ability to pay, but does not say the visit is free. Howard Brown and the CORE Center offer sliding fees. PrEP4IL covers medicine for eligible Illinois residents, though not provider injection fees. Insurance often covers PrEP under the ACA preventive rules. Confirm the specifics with the clinic or plan.

Will PrEP show up in my records or reports?

Clinics keep medical records like any other care. Illinois reporting rules apply to certain infections, not to PrEP itself. If privacy is a worry, ask the clinic how records and billing statements are handled. The Illinois HIV/STD Hotline, 1-800-243-2437, can also answer general questions.

How many people in Chicago are getting diagnosed with HIV?

IDPH's December 2025 surveillance update lists 474 new HIV diagnoses so far for the Chicago Health Department jurisdiction in 2025. The report says all data are provisional and subject to change, and the count will likely rise as reports come in. Do not treat it as a final annual total.

What is a good first step?

Pick one place from the list above and call. Ask whether they offer PrEP, whether you need an appointment, what to bring, and what the visit costs. If you want to check HIV and STI status first, the same clinics can usually test. Our local testing list and gettested.cdc.gov both help you find a site. If you were recently exposed, read about PEP first, because timing matters.

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