Quick Answer
- Philadelphians can get confidential online HIV and STD counselling with Dr. Yuvraj Monga for $99.
- The city's Health Center 1 offers free HIV, chlamydia, gonorrhoea and syphilis testing for anyone 13+, with no appointment.
- Philadelphia residents can order free, discreet home HIV test kits through Philly, Keep On Loving.
- Health Center 1 staff can discuss PEP after an exposure and PrEP after a negative result.
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.
Philadelphia does free HIV testing better than most cities. You can walk into a city clinic without an appointment, order a test kit to your door, or even request a house call. So why do so many Philadelphians still lie awake worrying? Because a test is only one part of the answer. Knowing when to test, what the result means and what to do next is where most people get stuck. If you've been searching for the best doctors for HIV/AIDS in Philadelphia, here is the guidance that ties it all together.
Why Philadelphians Reach Out to Us
- "I used a home kit and I'm not sure I did it right."
- "I tested at three weeks. Does that count?"
- "I need to know whether I should ask for PEP before it's too late."
- "I'm living with HIV and want to talk to someone outside my clinic."
- "I want advice in Hindi, privately."
Counselling with Dr. Yuvraj Monga gives you a specialist's time and attention, alongside the city's excellent free services.
Free HIV and STD Services in Philadelphia
Philadelphia County is a federal Ending the HIV Epidemic priority jurisdiction, and the Department of Public Health has made testing remarkably easy:
| Local service | What it offers (check before visiting) |
|---|---|
| Health Center 1 (City STD clinic) | 1930 S. Broad St., 2nd floor. Free HIV, chlamydia, gonorrhoea and syphilis testing for ages 13+, no appointment, one form of ID. Phone 215-685-6570. Staff discuss PEP and PrEP. |
| Philly, Keep On Loving: free home test kits | Philadelphia residents can order a discreetly mailed HIV self-test kit. |
| Philly, Keep On Loving: house calls | Residents can request a healthcare professional to test them at home. |
| Emergency departments | For PEP within 72 hours when the clinic is closed. |
If your Health Center 1 result is negative, staff can talk to you about PrEP; if you had a recent exposure, they can discuss PEP. Counselling helps you prepare for that conversation and understand what you're told.
Talk to Dr. Monga privately today
Consultation on WhatsApp. $99 package. 100% confidential.
Exposure in the Last 72 Hours?
Act today. Go to Health Center 1 during opening hours or a hospital emergency department and ask about PEP. Then message us for help with follow-up testing, side effects and the anxiety of the next few weeks.
Learn more in our guides on PEP timing and high-risk situations.
Home Test Kits: Using Them Wisely
Philadelphia's free home kits are a fantastic resource, but they are often used at the wrong time. Most self-tests detect antibodies, which take longer to appear than the markers measured by a 4th-generation lab test.
- For a conclusive answer after a single exposure, use a self-test about 12 weeks after the event.
- For an earlier answer, a 4th-generation lab test at 6 weeks is more reliable.
- Any reactive self-test must be confirmed with a laboratory test.
- A faint or unclear line is a reason for a lab test, not panic.
Our page on which test to choose explains the differences.
Don't Forget the Other STDs
Health Center 1 tests for chlamydia, gonorrhoea and syphilis as well as HIV, and that matters. These infections are more common than HIV after a single encounter, often have no symptoms, and increase HIV risk if left untreated. A single visit at the right time can cover everything.
PrEP in Philadelphia
If you have new partners regularly, PrEP can remove much of the fear from your sex life. Health Center 1 staff can discuss PrEP after a negative test, and many providers across the city prescribe it. Counselling helps you decide whether PrEP fits your situation and what questions to ask.
Living With HIV in Philadelphia
Philadelphia has strong HIV care networks, yet many clients tell us they want a private space to talk about life beyond the clinic: relationships, disclosure, work, family and the emotional weight of daily treatment. We also help people make sense of viral load and CD4 reports.
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 Philadelphia
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 Philadelphia
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 Philadelphia.
- 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.
24x7 Support on WhatsApp
Your session is booked, on WhatsApp or video, with 24x7 support and confirmed on WhatsApp:
Message us any time, day or night. Our support team is available 24x7 on WhatsApp for Philadelphia. 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.
Privacy in a City of Neighbourhoods
Philadelphia is a city of tight-knit neighbourhoods where people often know each other's business. Many of our clients, including those from the region's Indian and South Asian communities in the city and the surrounding suburbs, value speaking with someone completely outside their local circle. Online counselling makes that possible.
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 Philadelphia clients, the online counselling package is $99. We confirm on WhatsApp what it includes for your situation before you pay.
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 Philadelphia?
Philadelphia has excellent HIV specialists at university hospitals and community health centres. The right one depends on your insurance, location and needs. Counselling with Dr. Monga helps you understand your situation first.
Is HIV testing free in Philadelphia?
Yes. Health Center 1 offers free HIV and STD testing to anyone 13 and older with no appointment, and Philadelphia residents can order free home HIV test kits online.
Can I get PEP at Health Center 1?
Staff at Health Center 1 can discuss PEP if you've been exposed to HIV, ideally within 72 hours. Outside clinic hours, go to an emergency department.
Are home HIV tests reliable?
They are useful screening tools, but most detect antibodies only, so they are most reliable around 12 weeks after exposure. Any reactive result needs a lab confirmation.
Is support available 24x7 for Philadelphia?
Yes. Our support is available 24x7 on WhatsApp: message us any time and your consultation with Dr. Monga is confirmed there.
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 Philadelphia, 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 Philadelphia
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.