How to get treated:

You can get treated for HIV and STDs in the East Bay on the same day that you are diagnosed, with safe and highly effective treatment, regardless of your insurance and immigration status. When a person with HIV takes medication each day, the HIV viral load becomes undetectable, and the person does not pass on the virus to other people sexually, which is what we call U=U, for Undetectable = Untransmittable.  

Decide on where you want to get treatment:

• With your current medical provider, if you have one: contact them and let them know you have an urgent medical need so you can be seen the same day. 
•  With a new medical provider: click here and select for “HIV treatment” or “STD testing and treatment” as the primary service to find a new provider.

Tell the provider who gave you the diagnosis where you want to be referred, or contact them yourself. 

Click here to find direct contact info by text or phone.  

Meet your care team and get treatment, usually on the same day. 

• If you’re going to your current medical provider, what typically happens is:
  1. You will meet the medical provider or their coworker so they can find out about your health and offer treatment.
  2. Sometimes providers have medication to give you at the visit. Other times you will pick up the medications at a pharmacy.  
  3. Sometimes you will need more lab tests.
  4. The care team will make a follow-up appointment. 
• If you’re going to a new provider, you will meet the intake person, who will help you get you enrolled and figure out insurance options. Then the same steps above typically happen. 

Start taking medication and get the virus undetectable

• Your medical provider will usually start treatment that day.
• In 4-8 weeks your care team will have you come in for a follow up visit and get labs to see how well the treatment is working.
• The goal is for the virus to be full suppressed or undetectable within about 2-3 months.

Feel confident that Undetectable = Untransmittable

How it works

1. Become undetectable (or virally suppressed). This can take up to 6 months after starting HIV medication. Your health care provider will perform blood tests and let you know when you’re undetectable.
2. Stay undetectable. Get a second undetectable test result at least 6 months after the first to be sure that the virus is suppressed. Continue to take your HIV medications daily (or get your HIV medication shots on time every time) and visit your health care provider regularly. They will monitor your blood tests to make sure you’re still undetectable.

U=U Basics in English and Spanish (downloadable patient education)