Prevention
Family Health Centers of San Diego (FHCSD) offers high-quality, affordable LGBTQ health care services to the community in an accessible and affirming environment. We are committed to providing comprehensive health care services, including the full range of primary care and reproductive health services, as well as connecting individuals with HIV or hepatitis to screenings and treatment, Gay Men’s Health Services including PrEP and PEP, Transgender Health Services and more.
Walk-in & Mail-in Testing Options
Easy, convenient STD and HIV testing options are available. The HIV Coordinated Services & Prevention Center and The Night Clinic offer walk-in testing. You can also do at-home, mail-in testing with TakeMeHome and Don’t Think Know. If you receive a positive at-home test, be sure to call us at (619) 876-4462 to get treated.
What is Doxy-PEP?
Doxy-PEP is short for doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis. A dose of Doxy-PEP within 72 hours of condomless sex can significantly reduce your risk of contracting syphilis, chlamydia and gonorrhea.What are the side effects of Doxy-PEP?
Doxy-PEP is well-tolerated, and studies have shown no serious side effects. Mild side effects include nausea, vomiting or diarrhea. Long-term side effects on antibiotic resistance are currently being studied, but doxycycline has been used long-term safely for other conditions, including acne and malaria prophylaxis.Who should take Doxy-PEP?
Doxy-PEP has been shown to be effective in cis men who have sex with men and trans women. It is recommended for people who have had syphilis, chlamydia or gonorrhea in the last 12 months. For more information, click here.Monkeypox (mpox)
Monkeypox is a viral disease. Symptoms include:
- Fever
- Headache
- Muscle aches and backache
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Chills
- Exhaustion
- A rash that can look like pimples or blisters
Monkeypox is spread through close skin-to-skin contact, including:
- Kissing
- Cuddling
- Sex
- Direct contact with infectious rash, scabs, body fluids – this includes sharing utensils or articles of clothing
Although the most effective way to prevent monkeypox is to avoid sex of any kind (oral, anal, vaginal) and kissing or touching while sick, there are ways to reduce your risk without total abstinence:
- Have virtual sex with no in-person contact.
- Masturbate together at a distance of at least six feet, without touching each other and without touching any rash.
- Turn on the lights and look for possible signs of infection before having sex.
- Consider having sex with your clothes on or covering areas where rash is present, reducing as much skin-to-skin contact as possible. Condoms alone are likely not enough to prevent monkeypox.
- Avoid kissing.
- Remember to wash your hands, fetish gear, sex toys and any fabrics (bedding, towels, clothing) after having sex.
- Do not share things like towels, fetish gear, sex toys or toothbrushes.
- Limiting your number of sex partners may reduce the possibility of exposure.
- Avoid touching the rash. Touching the rash can spread it to other parts of the body and may delay healing.
- A rave, party or club where there is minimal clothing and where there is direct, personal, skin-to-skin contact has some risk. Avoid any rash you see on others and consider minimizing skin-to-skin contact.
- Enclosed spaces, such as back rooms, bath houses, sex clubs or private and public sex parties where sexual contact with multiple partners occurs, may have a higher likelihood of spreading monkeypox.
- People who had multiple sexual partners in the last 14 days
- People who had a known exposure to someone with confirmed monkeypox in the last 14 days
- Men who have sex with men
AccoEquality California, the nation’s largest statewide LGBTQ+ civil rights organization, has partnered with UBER to provide free roundtrip rides (up to $30 each way) to MPXV (Monkeypox virus) vaccination sites. To receive a Uber voucher, complete the form here:
https://go.eqca.org/a/mpxv-ridesrdion Content
Accordion Content
- See a health care provider if you notice a new or unexplained rash or other monkeypox symptoms.
- Avoid close contact with other people and pets.
- If your test result is positive, stay isolated until your rash has healed, all scabs have fallen off and a fresh layer of skin has formed.
A health care provider may prescribe antivirals to treat monkeypox infections if you are more likely to get severely ill due to another health condition, such as immune suppression.
