Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) Screening
STIs often cause no or minimal symptoms in affected individuals. For this reason, routine screening for STIs is recommended at least annually for most sexually active individuals, even if they are asymptomatic. During your visit, a health care provider will assess your individual risks and testing needs to determine which STI screening is indicated and how frequently it should be done.
Click here to review current STI screening recommendations.
STI Treatment
SHS medical providers evaluate, test, and treat individuals with symptoms of STIs. You should considering coming in for a medical evaluation if you have any of the following symptoms:
- Burning with urination
- Abnormal genital or rectal discharge
- Genital or rectal itching, irritation, or pain
- Skin bumps or sores around the genitals or anus
- Other skin rashes without a known cause
If you are diagnosed with an STI, talk with your provider about getting your sexual partner treated using "expedited partner treatment" (EPT).
Click here for more information about common STIs.
Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV Prevention
Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) involves taking an antiviral medication on a regular basis in order to prevent acquiring an HIV infection in case of exposure. PrEP is up to 99% effective at preventing HIV infection through sex, and up to 74% effective at preventing HIV acquired through injection drug use. UCM SHS currently only offers oral PrEP at this time.
Anyone who is at increased risk of acquiring HIV may benefit from PrEP. Some indications for PrEP include people who:
- have a sexual partner with HIV
- have engaged in unprotected anal or vaginal intercourse in the past 6 months with multiple or non-monogamous partners
- have been diagnosed with an STI in the past 6 months
- have an injection partner with HIV or share injection equipment with others
- have used multiple courses of Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) due to continued risky behaviors
Click here or here for more information about PrEP.
Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) for HIV Prevention
Post-exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) involves taking a combination of antiretroviral medications after a single high-risk exposure to prevent acquiring an HIV infection. It is important to start PEP as soon as possible after a potential HIV exposure, ideally less than 72 hours.
The following are a few examples of situation where PEP may be desired:
- Condom failure during intercourse with known HIV-positive partner with unknown or detectable viral load.
- Shared use of injection drug paraphernalia with an injection partner is HIV-positive or who has an unknown HIV status.
- Unprotected anal intercourse with an anonymous partner or one for whom HIV status is unknown.
- Any type of non-consensual vaginal or anal receptive intercourse, especially if the perpetrator is unknown to the individual.
Click here or here for more information about PEP.
Doxycycline Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (Doxy PEP)
Doxycycline is an oral antibiotic that can be used to prevent bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STIs) when taken within 72 hours of unprotected intercourse. Doxy-PEP is currently recommended to be considered under the following circumstances:
- Assigned male at birth (AMAB)
- Gay or bisexual cisgendered men and trans women
- Have had condomless anal or oral sex within the past 12 months
- Have had a bacterial STI within the past 12 months
- Have had multiple cisgender male or transgender female partners in the past 12 months, even if no previously diagnosed STI
Click here for more information about Doxy PEP.
