Quick Answer
- New Yorkers can get confidential online HIV and STD counselling with Dr. Yuvraj Monga for $99.
- NYC Health Department sexual health clinics offer low- to no-cost PEP, PrEP and testing, regardless of immigration status.
- When clinics are closed, the NYC PEP hotline (844-373-7692) helps you start PEP within 72 hours.
- Counselling helps you choose the right tests and understand results; prescriptions come from a New York provider.
The HIV Testing Counselling Program, Run by Dr. Yuvraj Monga
This program is led by Dr. Yuvraj Monga, MBBS, MD, an HIV, AIDS and STD specialist physician with a fellowship in infectious diseases and more than 25 years of experience managing and treating patients from around the world. Our counselling follows WHO and CDC guidelines, and our own EXACT program means we take time to understand every patient, not just their test result.
Easy consultation, friendly follow-up support, and a clear path to living with confidence and safety.
New York moves fast, and worry moves faster. One night in the East Village, a dating-app match in Brooklyn or a business trip that ended in a Midtown hotel can leave you searching for the best doctors for HIV/AIDS in New York at an hour when no clinic is answering the phone. This guide gives you two things: a clear picture of the excellent public resources New York City offers, and a private place to talk it all through with a specialist.
Why New Yorkers Reach Out to Us
New York has some of the strongest HIV services in the country. So why would anyone here seek counselling online? The answers we hear most often are personal rather than medical:
- "I don't want to be seen walking into a sexual health clinic near my office."
- "My appointment was seven minutes long and I left with more questions than answers."
- "I tested negative twice and still can't sleep."
- "I need to explain this to my wife, and I don't know where to start."
- "I'd feel more comfortable talking in Hindi."
Counselling with Dr. Yuvraj Monga fills exactly those gaps: time, privacy, clarity and a familiar voice.
New York's Public HIV and STD Services
New York City is an Ending the HIV Epidemic priority jurisdiction, with the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan and Queens all named by federal health agencies as focus areas. The practical benefit for you is a strong network of public services:
| Local service | What it offers (check before visiting) |
|---|---|
| NYC Health Department Sexual Health Clinics | Eight open clinics in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and Manhattan. PEP, PrEP, doxy-PEP and STI/HIV testing. Low- to no-cost, insurance not required, regardless of immigration status. |
| NYC PEP Hotline: 844-373-7692 | Available 24/7 when clinics are closed, to help you start PEP within 72 hours of an exposure. |
| Express clinics (Fort Greene, Chelsea) | Faster testing visits for people without symptoms. Check hours before you go. |
| Your primary care provider or urgent care | Can order a 4th-generation HIV test and STD panel, and prescribe PrEP. |
The city's sexual health clinics serve anyone aged 12 and older without parental consent, and they do not require insurance or ask about immigration status. That matters in a city where so many residents are newcomers.
Talk to Dr. Monga privately today
Consultation on WhatsApp. $99 package. 100% confidential.
If Something Happened in the Last 72 Hours
Start with PEP, then counselling. If you had a possible HIV exposure within 72 hours, go to an NYC sexual health clinic, an emergency department, or call the NYC PEP hotline (844-373-7692) if clinics are closed. Don't wait for symptoms or a test result.
Once PEP is started, counselling becomes valuable: understanding side effects, planning follow-up tests and managing the anxiety of the 28-day course. Our page on when to start PEP explains the science.
Testing in New York: Getting the Timing Right
The most common mistake we see among New Yorkers is testing too early, getting a negative result and still feeling unsure. Rapid tests at events, home kits and lab tests all have different window periods.
- A 4th-generation lab test is highly reliable from 6 weeks after a single exposure.
- A rapid antibody test is generally conclusive at about 12 weeks.
- STDs such as gonorrhoea and chlamydia can be tested from about 2 weeks, syphilis from about 6 weeks.
Before you book, a short counselling session can save you repeat tests and repeat anxiety. See our guide to the window period and to choosing the right test.
PrEP in New York
If you have regular new partners, PrEP may be the single best thing you can do for your peace of mind. NYC sexual health clinics start PrEP and many private providers prescribe it; most insurance plans cover it. Counselling helps you decide whether daily, on-demand or injectable PrEP fits your life, and what to ask your provider before starting.
Living With HIV in New York
New York has a deep network of HIV care, from hospital clinics to community health centres. Even with good medical care, people living with HIV often need space to talk about things that don't fit into a clinic visit: telling a partner, dating again, coping with stigma at work, family expectations, or simply feeling tired of daily medication. That is where counselling helps. Our page on treatment options and on viral load and CD4 are good starting points.
HIV Explained: What It Is, Common Symptoms and Why Early Advice Matters
What is HIV?
HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) attacks the immune system, especially the CD4 cells that help the body fight infection. It spreads through blood, semen, pre-seminal fluid, vaginal and rectal fluids and breast milk, most often through unprotected sex or shared needles. It does not spread through hugging, kissing, sharing food or everyday contact. Without treatment, HIV can slowly progress to AIDS. With modern treatment, people living with HIV live long, healthy lives.
Common early symptoms
Some people develop a short flu-like illness two to four weeks after infection. Many people have no symptoms at all, which is why testing, not guessing, gives the answer.
These symptoms are also caused by flu, other infections and even anxiety. Our pages on early signs and symptoms and the testing window period explain why a correctly timed test matters more than any symptom.
Why consult a doctor early?
What we do for people in New York
We counsel for every HIV, AIDS and STD concern, privately and without judgment:
PrEP Explained: What It Is, When to Use It, and How to Get It
What is PrEP?
PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) is medicine that people without HIV take before a possible exposure to prevent HIV. The most common form is a daily tablet containing tenofovir and emtricitabine. Taken as prescribed, PrEP reduces the risk of getting HIV from sex by about 99%, according to the US CDC. It does not protect against other STIs, so condoms and regular STI testing still matter.
Who should consider PrEP?
- You have a partner living with HIV who is not yet undetectable.
- You have new or multiple partners and don't always use condoms.
- You have had an STI in the past six months.
- You have needed PEP more than once.
- You share needles or injecting equipment.
How and when do you take it?
- Daily PrEP: one tablet every day, for anyone at ongoing risk.
- Event-based (2-1-1) PrEP: an option for some men who have sex with men, timed around sex. Your doctor will tell you if it suits you.
- Before starting: a negative HIV test, plus kidney and hepatitis B checks.
- While on PrEP: HIV, STI and kidney tests about every three months.
PrEP is not PEP. PrEP is taken before exposure. If you have already had an exposure in the last 72 hours, you need PEP: please consult a doctor or hospital in your own area immediately. Read PEP vs PrEP and who should consider PrEP.
Why consult an Indian HIV doctor about PrEP?
- Experience: Dr. Yuvraj Monga has more than 25 years in HIV, AIDS and STD care, with patients from around the world.
- Affordable: medical care in India costs far less than private care in most countries, and generic PrEP made in India is among the most affordable anywhere.
- Clear guidance: in counselling, Dr. Monga explains whether PrEP suits you, which tests you need, and the costs and options in your country compared with India.
- Complete confidentiality: counselling, prescription and follow-up, privately.
Getting your PrEP medicine
After a consultation and baseline tests, Dr. Monga can prescribe PrEP. Medicines are couriered anywhere in India, and for clients abroad we discuss the safest legal way to get your PrEP during the consultation.
In the United States, PrEP is widely available from local providers, often at low or no cost with insurance or assistance programs, and US rules generally do not allow prescription medicines to be imported by mail. Many of our US clients consult us for guidance and collect PrEP during a visit to India.
Our vision: a life free of HIV for everyone we counsel, through prevention, early testing and the right treatment.
When Do You Need Counselling? Our Services for New York
Counselling isn't only for a new diagnosis. Most people who reach us are making an important health decision: whether they need PEP, whether PrEP is right for them, which tests to take, how to protect a partner or how to plan a family. Choose what fits your situation and book a session on WhatsApp.
PEP Counselling (Within 72 Hours)
After a risky exposure, PEP can prevent HIV if started within 72 hours. Get PEP from a local emergency department or sexual health clinic; we help you understand your risk, take every dose and manage side effects.
- Is this exposure risky enough for PEP?
- How to take 28 days of PEP without missing doses
- Managing nausea, bloating and stomach upset
- Follow-up HIV tests after PEP
PrEP Counselling
PrEP is medicine taken before exposure that prevents HIV. After a consultation and baseline tests, Dr. Monga, an Indian HIV doctor, can prescribe PrEP, and we discuss the safest legal way for you to get it in New York.
- Is PrEP right for you: daily or event-based
- Which baseline tests to do first
- Costs and options in your country vs India
- Collect during an India visit, or dispatch where legally permitted
Testing Counselling: Which Tests and When
Testing at the wrong time is the main reason people stay anxious after a negative result. We give you a dated plan and explain every report.
- 4th-generation HIV test at 6 weeks
- Gonorrhoea & chlamydia from 2 weeks
- Syphilis at 6 weeks, repeat at 12 if advised
- Report interpretation in plain language
STD Counselling
Burning, discharge, sores or simply worry after sex? Many STDs cause no symptoms at all. We help you understand the risk and plan the right tests and treatment.
- Syphilis, gonorrhoea, chlamydia, herpes, HPV
- Which sites to test: urine, throat, rectal
- Partner notification and treatment
- Preventing repeat infections
Counselling for HIV-Positive Partners
If one partner is living with HIV, you can still have a safe, loving and intimate relationship. We counsel couples together or individually.
- U=U: undetectable means untransmittable
- PrEP and condoms for the HIV-negative partner
- Disclosure, trust and intimacy
- Handling family and social pressure
Family Planning Counselling
People living with HIV can have healthy, HIV-negative babies. We help couples plan conception, pregnancy and birth safely, alongside your local doctors.
- Reaching an undetectable viral load first
- Safe conception for mixed-status couples
- Pregnancy, delivery and infant testing
- Questions to ask your antenatal team
Managing PEP Side Effects: Nausea, Bloating, Stomach Upset and Fever
Modern PEP is usually well tolerated, but some people feel unwell in the first one to two weeks. Most side effects are mild and settle as the body adjusts. Never stop PEP on your own: contact the doctor who prescribed your PEP, or message us for guidance first.
| Side effect | What usually helps | When to get help |
|---|---|---|
| Nausea | Take the dose with food, eat small frequent meals, try ginger or dry crackers. Your doctor can prescribe an anti-nausea medicine. | If you vomit within an hour of a dose, ask your doctor whether to repeat it. |
| Bloating & stomach upset | Smaller meals, less spicy, oily or fizzy food, and gentle walking after meals. | Severe or worsening abdominal pain needs urgent review. |
| Loose stools | Drink plenty of fluids or oral rehydration solution; eat simple foods. | If it lasts more than two days or you feel dizzy or dehydrated. |
| Headache & tiredness | Rest, hydration and a regular sleep routine; take the dose at the same time daily. | If severe, or with confusion or a stiff neck. |
| Fever | Fever is not a typical PEP side effect. It can come from another infection, a reaction to medicine or, rarely, early HIV. | Contact a doctor promptly, especially if fever comes with a rash. |
Seek urgent care for a rash with fever, yellowing of the eyes or skin, dark urine, severe abdominal pain, repeated vomiting or difficulty breathing.
Counselling during PEP helps you stay on all 28 days, which matters as much as starting on time. Many people also need support for the anxiety that builds while they wait for follow-up results.
Our Approach: The EXACT Program
EXposure · Anxiety · Counselling · Testing & Treatment: one confidential pathway led by Dr. Yuvraj Monga.
Exposure
A detailed, judgment-free review of what happened and how risky it really was. PEP timing is checked first.
Anxiety
Practical tools to calm racing thoughts, stop symptom-checking and sleep again while you wait.
Counselling
One-to-one sessions on risk, relationships, disclosure, medication and living well with HIV.
Testing & Treatment
A dated HIV and STD test plan, report reviews, and guidance on PEP, PrEP or ART.
Online Sessions on New York Time
Your session is booked, on WhatsApp or video, with 24x7 support and confirmed on WhatsApp. Here is how New York hours line up with India:
Message us any time, day or night. Our support team is available 24x7 on WhatsApp for New York. Tell us briefly what is worrying you, and your private consultation with Dr. Yuvraj Monga, an Indian HIV specialist, is confirmed there.
Message 24x7 on WhatsAppHow It Works
1. Message on WhatsApp
Send a short note. A first name is enough to begin.
2. Fix your appointment
We confirm a slot with 24x7 support.
3. Talk to Dr. Monga
Chat, voice or video. Private and unhurried.
4. Friendly follow-up
Written next steps, test dates and support until you have answers.
Serving New York's South Asian Community
New York is home to one of the largest Indian and South Asian communities in the United States, from Jackson Heights and Richmond Hill to Jersey City across the river. For many, talking about sex, exposure or HIV with a local doctor who might share their community feels impossible. Speaking with Dr. Monga, outside that circle and in Hindi if preferred, allows people to be completely honest, and honesty leads to the right advice.
Meet Dr. Yuvraj Monga
Dr. Monga has spent his career helping people through HIV, AIDS and STD concerns, from the panic of a recent exposure to long-term HIV management. He is Chief Consultant Physician at Dr. Monga Medi Clinic and leads the HIV Testing Counselling program and its EXACT approach. He consults online from India with people around the world, including across the United States. Conversations are direct, evidence-based and free of judgment, in English or Hindi.
Recognition:
- Indian Achievers Award (2014)
- Brand Achiever, Health Care Excellence Awards (2015)
- Indian Achievers Award for Best Clinic in Delhi-NCR (2017)
Your $99 Counselling Package
For New York clients, the online counselling package is $99. What it includes for your situation, such as session length and follow-up, is confirmed on WhatsApp before you pay. You can begin with only a first name.
Don't Wait: Protect Yourself Before the Virus Takes Hold
After a risky exposure, the first 72 hours decide whether PEP can still protect you. If you're anxious, waiting for results or living with HIV, a single conversation can give you a clear plan. Book your consultation today and fix your appointment with 24x7 support.
Send a Private Query
Fill in a few details. Your query is emailed to Dr. Monga's team and WhatsApp opens with your details, so you can reach us instantly. Everything stays confidential.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the best doctors for HIV/AIDS in New York?
New York has many excellent HIV specialists in hospitals and community health centres. The best choice depends on your insurance, neighbourhood and needs. Online counselling with Dr. Monga can help you understand your situation and prepare the right questions before you choose a local provider.
Can I get PEP in New York at night or on weekends?
Yes. Hospital emergency departments can assess you at any hour, and the NYC PEP hotline (844-373-7692) is available 24/7 when sexual health clinics are closed. PEP must start within 72 hours.
Are NYC sexual health clinics free?
They are low- to no-cost. Insurance may be billed, but you can still receive services if you cannot pay, and insurance is not required.
Is support available 24x7 for New York?
Yes. Our support is available 24x7 on WhatsApp: message us any time and your consultation with Dr. Monga is confirmed there.
Can I speak in Hindi?
Yes. Many New York clients prefer Hindi, especially for sensitive family or relationship topics. English is equally welcome.
What should I do if PEP makes me feel sick?
Nausea, bloating and stomach upset are common in the first weeks. Take doses with food, eat small meals and stay hydrated, and ask your doctor about anti-nausea medicine. Don't stop PEP on your own. Fever with a rash, yellow eyes or severe pain needs urgent medical care.
Can you send PrEP to my location?
Medicines are couriered anywhere in India. For clients in New York, we discuss dispatch only where your country's laws permit personal import of prescribed medicine; otherwise many clients collect PrEP during a visit to India. In some countries, such as the UAE, importing HIV medicines is strictly controlled.
Further Reading
Detailed, doctor-reviewed guides from our sister resource, PEP Treatment for HIV:
Official public health resources:
People in New York
Medical note: Dr. Monga HIV Counselling Center provides online counselling, education and guidance. It does not replace an in-person examination, laboratory testing or prescriptions from a provider licensed in your state. If an exposure happened in the last 72 hours, seek PEP from a local hospital or clinic immediately. If you are in crisis or thinking about harming yourself, call or text 988 in the United States.