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 people who do not have HIV take to lower their chance of getting it. In Baton Rouge, you can start PrEP through community clinics, a state telehealth program and, for adults 17 and older, some pharmacies. Many options are free or low cost.

This guide explains what PrEP is, who it is for, what the first visit involves and how to pay for it. It also lists the local places that offer it. Everything here is general education. A clinician can tell you what fits your life and your health.

Key Takeaways

PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) is HIV prevention medicine for people who do not have HIV. A clinician prescribes it.
The CDC says daily oral PrEP reduces the risk of getting HIV from sex by about 99 percent when taken as prescribed. For people who inject drugs, the CDC says the reduction is at least 74 percent.
PrEP comes as a daily pill and as an injection. A third approach, called on-demand or 2-1-1 dosing, is discussed below with important limits.
Before starting, you need an HIV test and some other lab work. During PrEP, you return for regular follow-up visits and testing.
In Baton Rouge, Metro Health lists free testing and PrEP for the uninsured, and CareSouth lists a sliding scale. Louisiana TelePrEP offers virtual care for people with Medicaid or private insurance.
PrEP does not protect against chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis or other STIs. Regular STI testing is still part of good care.

What PrEP Is and How It Works
Who PrEP Is For
Types of PrEP: Daily Pills, On-Demand Use and Injections
How to Get PrEP in Baton Rouge
What PrEP Costs and How to Pay for It
What Happens at the First Visit and After
PrEP, PEP and Other Prevention Tools
Your Next Steps

What PrEP Is and How It Works

The short version

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

PrEP medicines are antiviral medicines. If HIV ever enters the body, the medicine in your system works to stop the virus from taking hold. This is why PrEP works best when it is taken the way a clinician prescribes.

How well it works

The CDC reports that PrEP reduces the risk of getting HIV from sex by about 99 percent when taken as prescribed. For people who inject drugs, the CDC reports a reduction of at least 74 percent.

These are averages from research. They depend on using PrEP consistently. No prevention tool works for everyone every time, so a clinician may talk with you about using other tools alongside it.

How long until it protects you

PrEP is not instant. The CDC says daily oral PrEP reaches maximum protection at different times depending on the type of exposure. It says about 7 days of daily use for receptive anal sex, and about 21 days for receptive vaginal sex and for injection drug use. Your clinician will explain the timing for the type of PrEP you choose.

PrEP and HIV treatment are different

PrEP is for people who do not have HIV. HIV itself is treatable and manageable with medicine from a clinician, but it is not curable. If a test shows HIV, a clinician will move you to HIV care instead of PrEP. Modern HIV treatment lets people live long, healthy lives.

Who PrEP Is For

CDC guidance

The CDC recommends that clinicians talk about PrEP with every sexually active adult and adolescent. It also says PrEP should be offered to anyone who asks for it, even if they do not name a specific reason. The USPSTF also recommends that clinicians offer PrEP to people at increased risk of HIV.

Examples the CDC describes include people who:

Have a partner who has HIV, especially if the partner's viral load is not consistently suppressed.
Have had anal or vaginal sex in the past six months and have had a bacterial STI in that time, or have more than one partner, or do not always use condoms.
Inject drugs and share needles or other equipment, or have a partner who does.
Are trying to conceive with a partner who has HIV and want added protection.

PrEP is for every gender and orientation

PrEP is not limited to one group. Gay, bisexual, straight and queer people can all use it. So can cisgender and transgender people, and people of any age a clinician considers appropriate. The point is your own situation, not a label.

Why this matters in Louisiana

Louisiana has high STI rates. The CDC's 2023 STI Surveillance report lists Louisiana first among states for chlamydia, at 792.4 cases per 100,000 people, and second for gonorrhea, at 288.4 per 100,000. It ranks Louisiana eighth for primary and secondary syphilis, at 26.1 per 100,000.

These are statewide figures, not Baton Rouge figures. Local numbers were not available for this guide. They matter because a bacterial STI can be one of the things a clinician considers when talking with you about PrEP.

You do not need to explain yourself

Many people feel nervous about asking for PrEP. A good clinic will treat it as ordinary preventive care, like asking about a vaccine. You can say, "I would like to talk about PrEP," and that is enough to start.

Types of PrEP: Daily Pills, On-Demand Use and Injections

There are currently three ways people talk about using PrEP. Your clinician will help you pick based on your health, your habits, your insurance and what is available at the clinic.

Daily oral PrEP

This is the most established option. It is a pill taken once a day, as a clinician prescribes. The CDC's clinical guidance supports it for sex and for injection drug use.

Before prescribing, clinicians check your kidney function and test for HIV and hepatitis B. They also look at other health factors, such as pregnancy. Most people tolerate it well. Side effects, when they happen, are often mild and often ease with time. Tell your clinician if anything bothers you.

Daily use matters. Skipped doses lower protection. If daily habits are hard for you, tell your clinician. That is a reason to talk about other options, not a reason for shame.

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

On-demand PrEP is a way of timing oral PrEP around sex instead of taking it every day. People often call it "2-1-1." The exact timing is something only a clinician should explain.

Here is what to know:

The CDC's PrEP clinical guidance recommends daily oral PrEP and injectable PrEP. It does not list on-demand use as a standard recommended option for the general public.
Where on-demand use has been studied, it has been studied in specific groups, mainly men who have sex with men. It has not been shown to work in the same way for people who have vaginal sex, or for people who inject drugs.
Ask a clinician before using this approach. Do not try it on your own based on something you read online.

If you think your needs might fit, bring it up at your visit. A clinician can tell you whether it applies to you or whether daily PrEP or an injection is a better match.

Injectable PrEP

Injectable PrEP is given by a clinician as a shot, at intervals the clinician sets. It can be a good fit for people who find daily pills hard to keep up with, or who prefer not to keep medicine at home.

Injectable PrEP requires visits to a clinic for each injection. It also requires HIV testing before starting and during use. Ask a clinic in Baton Rouge whether it stocks injectable PrEP, because availability varies and the clinics' listings do not say.

The CDC's guidance on long-acting injectable options has changed as new products were approved. Your clinician will have the most current information.

Comparing the options

Option	How it is used	Good to know
Daily oral PrEP	A pill taken every day, as prescribed	Most established option. Needs kidney and other lab checks.
On-demand (2-1-1)	Oral PrEP timed around sex, only as a clinician directs	Not a standard CDC-recommended option. Studied in limited groups.
Injectable PrEP	Given by a clinician at set visits	No daily pill. Requires clinic visits and HIV testing. Ask if it is stocked.

How to Get PrEP in Baton Rouge

If you are wondering how to get PrEP, you have several paths here. They range from in-person clinics to virtual visits to pharmacies. Phone numbers and addresses below come from the CDC GetTested listings and the Louisiana Health Hub. Hours change, so call before you go.

Community clinics

Metro Health, 950 Lorri Burgess Ave, Baton Rouge, LA 70802, 225-338-9333. The CDC GetTested listing shows free HIV, hepatitis C and STI tests, insurance and Medicaid accepted, and PrEP for the uninsured. It is marked as a walk-in site. The listing does not give hours, so check with the clinic.
CareSouth, Baton Rouge Clinic, 3140 Florida Blvd, Baton Rouge, LA 70806, 225-650-2000. The CDC GetTested listing shows PrEP navigation and PrEP for the uninsured, a free HIV test, a sliding scale, and insurance, Medicaid and Medicare accepted. It also lists herpes and hepatitis A, B and C testing.
Open Health Care Clinic (HAART Clinic), 3849 North Blvd, Baton Rouge, LA 70806, 225-655-6422. The CDC GetTested listing shows free HIV, hepatitis C and STI tests and says to contact the organization about eligibility. The listing does not mention PrEP, so ask the clinic whether it offers it or can refer you.
CrescentCare, Baton Rouge Office, 4550 North Blvd, Ste 230, Baton Rouge, LA 70806, 225-302-5968. The CDC listing shows HIV, chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis testing and says to contact the organization about eligibility. It gives no cost information. Call to ask about PrEP.
AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) HIV Specialty Clinic, 8425 Cumberland Place, Baton Rouge. A WAFB news report from August 4, 2025 says the clinic offers HIV and STI screenings and PrEP services for patients 14 or older, with care offered regardless of ability to pay, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The report does not give a phone number or say whether testing is free. Confirm details with AHF before you go.

Two other places offer testing but PrEP is not listed in what we found. RKM Primary Care (455 E Airport Ave, 225-683-1320) and Baton Rouge Primary Care Collaborative (7050 Plank Rd, 225-774-1120) both list HIV and STI testing and a sliding scale on CDC GetTested. Ask them whether they can prescribe PrEP or refer you.

The CDC GetTested listing for the East Baton Rouge Parish Health Unit (353 N 12th St, 225-242-4860) shows HIV, hepatitis C and STI testing with sliding-scale fees. Appointments are required. Call ahead, because routine STI services may have moved to community providers.

Louisiana TelePrEP

The Louisiana Health Hub, run by the state's STI/HIV/Hepatitis Program, offers Louisiana TelePrEP. It provides virtual PrEP care by phone or video. Here is what the Health Hub says:

It offers oral PrEP only.
You must be HIV-negative and 18 or older. Minors need a parent or guardian's consent.
You must be insured through Medicaid (or eligible for it) or have private insurance.
You need an email address and a smartphone, tablet or computer.
With Medicaid, labs and prescriptions are covered at 100 percent. With private insurance, costs vary. Medication shipping is free.
Navigators can be reached at 504-931-7687 or 504-877-2464, Monday to Friday, 8 am to 4:30 pm.

TelePrEP can be helpful if you have a busy schedule, limited transportation or want more privacy.

Pharmacists

Louisiana law now lets trained pharmacists provide PrEP in some cases. The Louisiana Health Hub describes Act 711 of 2024 (La. R.S. 37:1218.2). It says trained pharmacists may dispense HIV PrEP and PEP without a prescription to people aged 17 and older, and they must perform rapid HIV tests.

Not every pharmacy takes part. Call ahead and ask whether a trained pharmacist is on duty and whether the pharmacy offers this service.

Your own doctor

Many primary care providers, nurse practitioners and physician assistants can prescribe PrEP. If you already have a regular clinician, ask them. You do not need a specialist.

Finding more places

The Louisiana Health Hub's statewide line is 1-800-992-4379, Monday to Friday, 8am to 4pm. You can also use the CDC's locator at gettested.cdc.gov to find testing sites. If you want to compare local places for HIV and STI testing, see our guide to where to get tested in Baton Rouge.

What PrEP Costs and How to Pay for It

The cost of HIV PrEP depends on your insurance, the clinic you use and the type of PrEP. No single price applies to everyone, and none of the Baton Rouge clinics in our sources publish a price for PrEP itself. Here is how the pieces fit together.

What you may pay for

The medicine. Oral PrEP or injectable PrEP.
The visits. The first appointment and regular follow-ups.
The lab tests. HIV, kidney function, hepatitis B and STI testing, among others.

Insurance and the ACA

The USPSTF recommends PrEP for people at increased risk of HIV. Under the Affordable Care Act, most private plans must cover services with a strong USPSTF recommendation without charging you a copay or deductible, when you use an in-network provider. This preventive coverage can include related visits and lab tests. Plans that are grandfathered, and some other plan types, may follow different rules.

Call the number on your insurance card and ask how PrEP, the visits and the labs are covered. Ask whether you must use certain pharmacies or clinics.

Medicaid

The Louisiana Health Hub says that for TelePrEP patients with Medicaid, labs and prescriptions are covered at 100 percent. If you have Medicaid, ask the clinic to confirm what applies to your plan.

If you do not have insurance

You still have options. Metro Health and CareSouth both list PrEP for the uninsured on their CDC GetTested pages. CareSouth also lists a sliding scale, which adjusts fees based on income. Ask each clinic what documents they need and what the fees will be.

Louisiana's STI/HIV/Hepatitis Program did not list a separate state PrEP assistance program in the sources we reviewed. Ask your clinic or the Louisiana Health Hub at 1-800-992-4379 whether any assistance applies to you. Drug makers also run patient assistance programs, and a clinic's navigator can often help you apply.

Your privacy and your insurance

If you are on someone else's health plan, an explanation of benefits may be mailed to the policyholder. If that worries you, ask the clinic about options before you start. Clinics with navigators can often help you plan around this.

Age and consent

Rules differ by program. TelePrEP requires parent or guardian consent for minors. Pharmacist-provided PrEP is for people 17 and older. The AHF clinic is reported to serve patients 14 and older. For clinic visits, Louisiana's minor consent law (La. R.S. 40:1121.8) lets a minor who has or believes they have a venereal disease consent to care, but it also allows a physician to tell a parent or guardian without the minor's consent. Ask any clinic about its privacy practices before your visit.

What Happens at the First Visit and After

Before you go

Write down your questions. Bring your insurance card if you have one. Call ahead to ask whether you need an appointment, what to bring and what the visit will cost.

The first visit

A clinician will usually:

Ask about your health history, medicines and any symptoms.
Talk about your sexual health and any drug use. These are routine questions, and they help the clinician choose the right care.
Order an HIV test. PrEP is only for people who test HIV-negative, so this step matters.
Check kidney function if you are starting oral PrEP.
Test for hepatitis B, and often for hepatitis C, syphilis, chlamydia and gonorrhea.
Discuss pregnancy plans if that applies to you.

Some clinics offer rapid HIV tests with results in a short visit. Others send blood to a lab. CDC window period information explains that no HIV test can detect infection immediately after exposure, so tell your clinician about any recent exposure. They can choose the right test and tell you what the results mean.

Sometimes you can leave the first visit with a prescription. Other times the clinic waits for lab results first. Ask how your clinic handles this.

Follow-up visits

The CDC recommends follow-up about every three months for people taking oral PrEP. These visits usually include HIV testing, STI testing, a talk about how the medicine is working for you and a refill. Injectable PrEP involves its own follow-up testing at injection visits.

Follow-up is part of what keeps PrEP safe. It also gives you a regular, private chance to ask about any sexual health question.

Stopping and restarting

You can stop PrEP if your situation changes. Talk with a clinician first about how and when to stop, and about restarting if you need it again. Life changes, and so can your need for PrEP. Many people use it for a season and then stop.

Side effects and safety

Some people report mild stomach upset, headache or tiredness when starting oral PrEP. Serious problems are uncommon, which is why clinicians check kidney function and other labs. Call your clinic if you notice anything that worries you. Tell them about every other medicine and supplement you take.

PrEP, PEP and Other Prevention Tools

PrEP does not prevent other STIs

PrEP is for HIV only. It does not protect against chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, herpes, HPV or trichomoniasis. Bacterial STIs and trichomoniasis are curable with treatment from a clinician. Herpes and HPV are not curable, but they are manageable.

That is why regular STI testing goes with PrEP. Finding an infection early means a clinician can treat it early. Condoms lower the risk of many STIs. Vaccines are available for hepatitis A, hepatitis B and HPV. CareSouth, CrescentCare, RKM Primary Care and Baton Rouge Primary Care Collaborative list HPV vaccines in the CDC GetTested listings.

Doxy-PEP

In 2024, the CDC issued guidance on doxycycline taken after sex (doxy-PEP) to lower the risk of certain bacterial STIs. It applies to specific groups, and a clinician decides whether it is right for you. Only a clinician can prescribe it and explain how to use it. If you are on PrEP and curious about doxy-PEP, raise it at a follow-up visit.

PEP: after a possible exposure

PEP stands for post-exposure prophylaxis. It is HIV medicine started after a possible exposure. The CDC says it must begin within 72 hours to work, so time matters. Louisiana's Act 711 allows trained pharmacists to dispense PEP to people 17 and older. A clinic, urgent care or emergency room can also help. If you are unsure, call a clinic or the Louisiana Health Hub right away.

Treatment as prevention

People with HIV who take their medicine and keep their viral load undetectable do not pass HIV to partners through sex, according to the CDC. For couples where one partner has HIV, PrEP for the other partner can be an added layer of support while the viral load is brought down.

A note on Louisiana law

Louisiana has a statute on intentional exposure to HIV, La. R.S. 14:43.5, which was rewritten by Acts 2026, No. 177, effective August 1, 2026. It describes defenses that include disclosure and maintaining a viral load consistent with medical standards. If you have questions about how it applies to you, consider talking with an attorney or an HIV legal service. This guide cannot advise on legal matters.

Expedited partner therapy

If a partner is treated for chlamydia or gonorrhea, Louisiana law (La. R.S. 40:1121.6) allows clinicians to provide treatment to that person's sexual partners without an exam. A 2026 law, Act 567, takes effect August 1, 2026 and is reported to widen this. Ask a clinic what currently applies.

Your Next Steps

A simple plan

Decide what you want to ask. Is it daily pills, a shot or something else? Is cost the main worry?
Pick a starting point. Metro Health is a walk-in site. CareSouth lists PrEP and a sliding scale. TelePrEP works if you have Medicaid or private insurance. Your own clinician is another good place to start.
Call to confirm. Ask about hours, appointments, costs and whether they offer PrEP now.
Get tested. An HIV test is the first step to PrEP, and STI testing is a good habit while you are at it.
Book follow-ups. Put your three-month check on the calendar.

Free and low-cost testing

Testing is the easiest first step. Metro Health and Open Health Care Clinic both list free HIV and STI tests on CDC GetTested. CareSouth lists a free HIV test and a sliding scale. You can also use gettested.cdc.gov to look up more sites.

Access Health Louisiana offers a free home HIV test kit for southeast Louisiana residents aged 18 to 64 who have not been tested in the past year. Its page does not say whether Baton Rouge addresses qualify. You can ask by emailing [email protected] or calling 504-226-2976. A home test is not a substitute for the lab work a clinician orders before PrEP, but it can be a first step.

Questions to bring to your clinic

Do you offer daily pills, injections or both?
What will the visits and labs cost me with my insurance, or without it?
How often will I need to come back?
Who will see my records, and how is my privacy protected?
What other tests or vaccines should I consider?

You are allowed to ask

Wanting to protect your health is reasonable, and it does not need a special reason. People in Baton Rouge use PrEP every day. A short phone call is enough to begin.

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