Sexual Health & Wellness
Student Health offers a variety of services related to sexual and reproductive health, such as:
- Contraception education and prescription, including free pregnancy testing in clinic.
- STI prevention, testing, and treatment, including Pap smears, PrEP services, and HPV vaccination.
- Evaluation and treatment of common gynecological health issues, such as vaginal symptoms and infections, menstrual disorders, urinary tract infections, and breast complaints.
Birth Control Services
- Student Health offers hormonal birth control pills, the contraceptive ring, the contraceptive patch, and Depo Provera injections. Pap smears are not required for students to begin birth control.
- Referrals will be made for IUD insertions and Nexplanon implants.
- Free condoms are available to all students at Student Health. Just stop by the front desk and ask (or fill out the OTC Medication order form). Students with appointments can help themselves to free condoms in each exam room.
- Plan B (emergency contraception) can also be purchased without a prescription at Student Health for $20. Amazon frequently offers Plan B options at even lower cost.
STI Prevention, Testing, & Treatment
- Annual STI (sexually transmitted infection) screening is recommended for all sexually active students. More frequent testing is recommended if symptoms develop or if students engage in high-risk sexual behaviors.
- Free STI testing at Student Health is offered to all VCU students one Tuesday per month from 5-7pm. Click on the link for details.
- For regular office appointments, lab fees are $20 for gonorrhea & chlamydia, and $15 for HIV & syphilis blood tests ($35 total).
- Asymptomatic students who do not have a known STI contact should wait at least 2 weeks after a sexual encounter for gonorrhea and chlamydia testing. Testing too early can lead to false negative results. However, if you have symptoms or if your partner has been diagnosed with an STI, testing should be completed asap.
- Students may choose to give a urine sample for gonorrhea & chlamydia testing. If a urine test is preferred, do not urinate for 1-2 hours prior to your appointment.
- Student Health also offers PrEP consultations to students interested in learning more about, starting, or continuing PrEP. When requesting an appointment, please let the scheduler know that the visit is for PrEP so that you are scheduled appropriately.
Pap Smears & Routine Gynecologic Exams
- Routine gynecologic exams are charged $50, which covers the following components:
- Pap Smears for cervical cancer screening in students 21 years and older. Anyone with a cervix should complete their first Pap smear at age 21; if results are normal, Pap smears are repeated every 3 years.
- STI testing for chlamydia, gonorrhea, trichomonas, syphilis, and HIV.
- Testing for vaginal yeast infections and bacterial vaginosis.
- Routine breast exam.
- You must call to schedule an appointment. Please state clearly that you are requesting a Pap exam.
- Avoid scheduling gynecologic exams during your menses, as this could affect test results.
- Due to high demand, plan to schedule your Pap exam at least 2-3 weeks in advance.
- If you miss 2 Pap appointments over the course of one semester, you will not be allowed to schedule another Pap exam until the following semester.