PEP in Heidelberg (after Safer Sex Accidents)

PEP: Emergency Protection Against HIV
PEP (Post-Exposure Prophylaxis) is an emergency measure for people at substantial risk of having been exposed to HIV. It works by preventing HIV from multiplying in the body. The medication should be started as soon as possible, and no later than 48 hours after potential exposure.

Not every doctor is authorized to prescribe PEP. In Heidelberg and the surrounding region, there are several options available to access PEP. You can visit the nearest facility, regardless of your place of residence.

In Heidelberg, your primary contact is the Infectious Disease Department (Infektiologie) at Im Neuenheimer Feld.

After 3:30 PM and on weekends
For Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) inquiries regarding potential HIV exposure: Hautklinik Reception (Pforte): 06221-564002. Please ask to be connected with a physician from the Immunological Outpatient Clinic (Immunologische Ambulanz) or the duty dermatologist (Dienstarzt) at the Skin Clinic.

Additional Emergency Addresses in the Region:

Universitätsklinikum Mannheim
Emergency Department & Infectious Disease Ward 11.2
Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, 68167 Mannheim
Phone: 0621-3830
Klinikum der Stadt Ludwigshafen
Infectious Disease Outpatient Clinic, Medical Clinic A
Bremserstr. 79, 67063 Ludwigshafen
Phone: 0621-5030

Contact information subject to change without notice. Provided without guarantee.
Last updated: July 2026

Additional PEP providers in your area can be found on the Deutsche Aidshilfe website: PEP-Specialized Clinic Finder

Information on the topic of post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) can be downloaded below or from the AWMF Guidelines Register.

What is PEP?

It can happen that something goes wrong with protection against HIV. Condoms can break or slip off, for example. Sometimes they are simply forgotten in the rush of emotions.

If a partner is HIV-positive and HIV replication is not suppressed by medication, HIV can be transmitted. However, panic is out of place in such moments: HIV infection can very probably still be prevented.

To do this, HIV medication is taken for four weeks. The medication prevents HIV from becoming established in the body. This treatment is called post-exposure prophylaxis, or PEP for short. This roughly means "prevention after contact with HIV".

Important: PEP must be started as soon as possible after the HIV risk. Ideally within two hours, otherwise if possible within 24 hours, at the latest after 48 hours. Whether PEP can still be useful up to 72 hours (three days) after the risk is controversial.

Do not hesitate. Contact your nearest qualified clinic or emergency department directly. The medical staff on site will evaluate your situation with you and discuss whether PEP is recommended for you.

When is PEP advisable?

PEP is usually carried out if you have had unprotected sexual intercourse (anal or vaginal) with a person who

is highly likely to be HIV-positive and it is not known whether they are taking HIV therapy or whether HIV therapy is working
Is HIV-positive and has so many viruses in the blood that they can be detected. (This is not the case if HIV therapy is working well)

Other situations in which PEP can be useful:

Medical staff have injured themselves with a syringe or other instrument that has previously come into contact with the blood of a patient* with HIV.
When injecting drugs, someone has used a syringe that has previously been used by an HIV-positive person.

Whether PEP makes sense is decided after a consultation in the outpatient clinic or doctor's surgery.

In the case of sexual accidents, it can be helpful if the partners come along to this consultation to provide information about their HIV infection, any HIV therapy and resistance.

Wo gibt es die Postexpositionsprophylaxe (PEP)?

Only specialized hospitals and medical practices are familiar with PEP (an overview of suitable contact points can be found here.) The outpatient clinics mentioned are open around the clock. During the day, PEP is also available in HIV specialist practices.

If in doubt, you should choose the practice or outpatient clinic that can be reached most quickly.

If you have any questions, the telephone advice service of the HIV Service Centres in Germany can help.

What are the side effects of PEP?: PEP is a four-week treatment with HIV medication. Side effects such as headaches, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting can occur.

Immediate measures after unprotected sexual intercourse

After unprotected sexual intercourse with HIV-positive partners, the risk of HIV transmission can be reduced somewhat by taking the following measures:

In the case of unprotected anal/vaginal intercourse (high risk): Wash the penis under running water with soap. To do this, pull back the foreskin and carefully clean the glans and the inside of the foreskin (without exerting pressure on the mucous membrane).
If seminal fluid enters the mouth (low risk): spit out immediately and rinse briefly with water four to five times.
If seminal fluid gets into the eye (low risk): rinse with water.
Important: Vaginal or bowel irrigation is not recommended. There is no evidence as to whether douching reduces or even increases the risk of infection.

Caution: These immediate measures only reduce the risk to a small extent. They cannot replace the protection provided by condoms/femidoms, HIV therapy or PrEP or - in the event of an infection - PEP!

Preventing Unintended Pregnancy:
For some people, protecting against an unintended pregnancy can also play a role during a safer sex accident. For this reason, we provide the following information:

Plan B Morning-after pill

Contraception problems can occur anytime. If you are afraid that your contraception has not worked properly or has not been used correctly or you have had unprotected sex, you can use the morning after pill. The morning after pill can prevent pregnancy after unprotected intercourse.

Do not wait unnecessarily: Depending on the product, you have 72 hours or 120 hours.

Side effects: The emergency contraceptive pill has few side effects and is well tolerated.

It costs between 16 and 35 € depending on the product and is available without a prescription at any pharmacy.

Unplanned Pregnancy – What Now?: There are various support and counseling services available regarding pregnancy, parenthood, and pregnancy terminations. For further details, please refer to the Heidelberg City information website.

Not every "safer sex accident" is voluntary. We explicitly emphasize that non-consensual condom removal ("stealthing") is a criminal offense (sexual assault under Section 177, Paragraph 1 of the German Criminal Code / StGB). Furthermore, coercing or pressuring someone into unwanted, unprotected intercourse is an act of violence and may constitute sexual coercion.

Have you experienced violence? We have compiled information and resources for you here.