The team at Student Health Center provides this information as a general guide. We encourage you to ask questions of your healthcare team when you are seen and are happy to address any concerns you may have.
All health information at Student Health Center is treated as confidential. We realize that some questions may seem particularly personal, but we want to make sure we have as much information needed to effectively care for you.
If you are seen for gynecological or male genitourinary complaints, or Sexually Transmitted Infection screening we may ask additional questions about your medical history, such as:
Current symptoms and concerns
- 5 Ps of sexual history:
- Partners (Current, Past and Future)
- Prevention of Pregnancy (History of Pregnancy)
- Protection from Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI’s)
- Practices
- Past History of STIs
- Physical and mental health history, family history
- Smoking, alcohol and other drug use
Questions about your sexual history:
Some patients may not be comfortable talking about their sexual history, sex partners, or sexual practices, and wonder why such sensitive, personal, and specific information is needed. All information is confidential.
These questions are important because there is no single test or panel for screening or testing for sexually transmitted infections. Sexual practices and risk behaviors vary among individuals. Identifying each person’s risks is so that we can recommend what individual tests are needed. Source: cdc.gov/std/prevention/screeningreccs.htm
For sensitive health examinations, both one of our Nurse Practitioners and either a Registered Nurse or a clinical associate will be with you. If you feel uncomfortable, please let us know.
If you need to remove your clothing to be examined, you will be given a gown or sheet.
Types of sensitive exams may include:
- Clinical Breast Exam (CBE) for general screening or if you have breast symptoms such as pain, rashes, or lumps
- Pelvic Exam can include visual inspection, speculum exam (to collect cells for a pap test beginning at age 21 and in some cases to test for STI’s), and bimanual exam (to diagnose conditions of the abdomen and pelvis such as pain)
- Pubic/Groin Region and Hernia Exam to diagnose symptoms such as pain, lumps, rashes, and lesions in this area and to check for a hernia
- Penile Exam to diagnose symptoms including pain with urination, rashes, sores and discharge from the penis (may also collect sample for STI screening)
- Rectal Exam to diagnose symptoms of the abdomen, pelvis, and gastrointestinal system such as abdominal pain, blood in the stool, and sores or lesions. Can include visual inspection, a digital exam, or swabs to test for STIs