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Student Health Services

Sexual Health and Gynecology

According to the World Health Organization, sexual health is defined as a state of physical, emotional, mental and social well-being in relation to sexuality; it is not merely the absence of disease, dysfunction or infirmity. Sexual health requires a positive and respectful approach to sexuality and sexual relationships, as well as the possibility of having pleasurable and safe sexual experiences, free of coercion, discrimination and violence. For sexual health to be attained and maintained, the sexual rights of all persons must be respected, protected and fulfilled.1

  • Services at Redfern Health Center

    Contraception

    • Contraceptive counseling and decision making
    • Contraceptive implant (Nexplanon) placement, management and removal
    • Intrauterine device (IUD) placement, management and removal
    • Depo-Provera injections
    • Contraceptive pills, patches and vaginal ring
    • Emergency contraception (morning-after pill and IUD)

    Sexually Transmitted Diseases

    • Testing and treatment for chlamydia, gonorrhea, herpes and syphilis
    • Testing and referral for HIV
    • Testing and treatment for other genital problems, such as warts and molluscum
    • HPV vaccine
    • Prevention of HIV–preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and post exposure prophylaxis (PEP)
    • Follow-up after sexual assault

    Gynecology

    • Well-woman exam and Pap
    • Pelvic pain
    • Painful intercourse
    • UTIs and other urinary problems
    • Vaginal infections
    • Menstrual disorders and abnormal bleeding
    • Breast exams

    Male Sexual Health

    • Urinary problems
    • Genital pain
    • Erectile dysfunction

    Pregnancy

    • Pre-pregnancy counseling
    • Pregnancy testing
    • Infertility evaluation and referral
    • Pregnancy referrals
    • Pregnancy-related protections, accommodations and resources are available to students at the University.
      • Title IX Protections and Accommodations: Clemson University is committed to creating a welcoming, accessible and inclusive environment for pregnant and parenting students. Clemson will not exclude anyone from participating in any part of an educational program based on pregnancy, childbirth, false pregnancy, termination of pregnancy, or recovery therefrom. Consistent with University policy and applicable laws such as Title IX, Clemson will provide reasonable accommodations to students for pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding or a related condition.
      • CARE Network: The CARE Network, through the Office of Advocacy and Success, can connect you to available resources on and off campus. Submit a CARE report to reach the CARE Network team.
      • Student Accessibility Services

    Pharmacy

    • The pharmacy at Redfern Health Center has a sexual health section of over-the-counter medications that includes tampons, pads, diva cups, cleansing wash, condoms, yeast treatments, probiotics for vaginal health, lubricants, Plan B, etc. These products can be purchased online or inside the pharmacy at Redfern.
  • HIV/STI Prevention

    HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are serious health concerns. According to the CDC, anal sex is the riskiest sexual behavior for getting and transmitting HIV for all genders.

    The only way to ensure complete protection against HIV, other STIs and pregnancy is abstinence. If you choose to be sexually active, the best way to reduce transmission of HIV and other STIs and prevent pregnancy is to use a condom or other barrier method during any form of sexual activity – anal, oral or vaginal.

    Sexually transmitted infections are serious but can be prevented, treated and/or managed. It is important to get tested regularly for HIV and other STIs to treat any infections and prevent transmission to others.

    The following services are available at Redfern Health Center:

    • Testing and treatment for chlamydia, gonorrhea, herpes and syphilis
    • Testing and referral for HIV
    • Testing and treatment for other genital problems, such as warts and molluscum
    • HPV vaccine
    • Prevention of HIV–preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and post exposure prophylaxis (PEP)
    • Follow-up after sexual assault

    Fast Stats

    According to the CDC:

    • Nearly half of the 20 million new sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) diagnosed each year are among young people aged 15–24 years.
    • Cisgender women can have long term effects of these diseases, including pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility, tubal scarring, ectopic pregnancy and chronic pelvic pain.
    • About 1 in 4 (26 percent) of all new HIV infections is among youth ages 13 to 24 years.
    • About 4 in 5 of these infections occur in males.

    Additional Stats from the American Sexual Health Association:

    • One in two sexually active persons will contract an STD/STI by age 25.
    • In 2008, there were an estimated 110 million prevalent STIs among women and men in the U.S. Of these, more than 20 percent (22.1 million) were among women and men aged 15 to 24 years.
    • One out of 20 people in the United States will get infected with hepatitis B (HBV) some time during their lives. Hepatitis B is 100 times more infectious than HIV.
    • It is estimated that as many as one in five Americans have genital herpes, a lifelong (but manageable) infection, yet up to 90 percent of those with herpes are unaware they have it.
    • Each year, there are almost 3 million new cases of chlamydia, many of which are in adolescents and young adults.
    • About two-thirds of young females believe doctors routinely screen teens for chlamydia. However, in 2003 only 30 percent of women 25 and under with commercial health care plans and 45% in Medicaid plans were screened for chlamydia.

    Quick Tips

    The CDC provides the following tips:

    • If you are a sexually active female aged 25 years or younger, get tested every year for chlamydia. If left untreated, chlamydia can affect your ability to have children.

    • If you are diagnosed with an STI/STD, notify your sex partners so they can be tested and receive treatment if needed. If your sex partner is diagnosed with an STI/STD, you need to be evaluated, tested and treated.

    • The most reliable ways to avoid transmission of STI/STDs, including HIV infection, are to abstain from sexual activity or to be in a long-term mutually monogamous relationship with an uninfected partner.

    • Latex male and female condoms and other barrier methods, when used consistently and correctly, can reduce the risk of transmission of some STI/STDs.


    Learn More/Resources

    • AIDS.gov: One-stop access to U.S. Government HIV/AIDS information
  • Confidential HIV/STI Testing Options

    Clemson University Student Health Services

    Student Health Services offers confidential testing for HIV and various STDs/STIs during normal business hours. You can make an appointment online through MyHealth-e, and it takes a few days to receive test results. Lab fees do apply. If you have the Clemson University Student Health Insurance Plan with AIG, all of these tests are covered 100% if done at Redfern. Please don't urinate within an hour before your appointment.


    DHEC Public Health Clinics

    DHEC provides low cost, confidential STD, HIV, and Hepatitis C testing in county health departments across the upstate. Please call the DHEC appointment line 1-855-472-3432 or use the online Web Chat feature to make an appointment.

    Locations nearby include:

    Please don't urinate within an hour before your appointment.


    AID Upstate – Anderson and Greenville

    AID Upstate is located in Anderson and Greenville. You can call anytime and make an appointment for free, confidential rapid HIV and hepatitis C testing with same day results. Other STI screenings are available. Please call AID Upstate at 864-226-9164 or 1-800-755-2040 to make an appointment. Their hours are as follows:

    • Anderson location Monday – Friday from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
    • Greenville location Monday – Friday from 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.

    Please don't urinate within an hour before your appointment. 


    Palmetto Community Care – Charleston

    Palmetto Community Care, located in Charleston, offers free, confidential HIV/STD testing at their North Charleston office at 3547 Meeting Street Road. Testing hours are 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Monday – Thursday. No appointment necessary. Please don't urinate within an hour before your appointment.

  • Barrier Methods

    The only way to ensure complete protection against HIV, other STIs and pregnancy is abstinence. If you choose to be sexually active, the best way to reduce transmission of HIV and other STIs and prevent pregnancy is to use physical barrier methods (ex. condoms, dental dams) during any form of sexual activity – anal, oral or vaginal. Using barrier methods correctly and consistently can also provide protection against other diseases that can be transmitted through sex like the Zika virus. 

    A variety of barrier methods are available in the pharmacy at Redfern Health Center (and can be purchased online).

    Learn More/Resources

  • Contraception

    Different methods of contraception are available at Redfern Health Center. A variety of barrier methods are available in the pharmacy (and can be purchased online), and providers at Redfern can write prescriptions for most birth control methods.

    Learn More/Resources


  • Learn More/Resources
Student at Councelling
Schedule an Appointment Clinical Chaperone Policy Interpersonal Violence

Frequently Asked Questions

  • It’s my first Sexual Health and Gynecology visit at Redfern. What should I expect?

    If your first visit is for your annual exam, you should allow ample time for your appointment as an annual exam appointment averages about an hour, much longer than other types of Sexual Health and Gynecology visits. During this time, you will be filling out paperwork concerning your personal and family health history, your height and weight will be measured, and the following procedures will be performed: hematocrit (finger prick/stick), urinalysis, head-to-toe physical, breast exam, Pap smear and pelvic exam.

    If your first visit is a problem visit, your appointment will most likely require much less time than an annual exam. During your appointment, your vitals will be taken and your problem and concerns will be discussed with the nurse or nurse practitioner. Any additional tests or exams will depend on the problem.

  • How do I choose a method of birth control?

    There are many decisions to make when choosing the right birth control method for you, from what type of hormones to how often you want to remember to take it (daily, weekly, monthly, etc.). If you are not sure which method of birth control is best for you and your lifestyle, the nurse or nurse practitioner will discuss the different types of birth control methods. Usually, you will be able to make an informed decision within the visit.

  • How do I take birth control pills?

    The quick-start method (starting the pill on the day of your exam) has become the easiest and most popular method to start the oral contraceptive pill. Another option is to start taking the active pills on the first day of your period. There is no wrong time to start the birth control pill, but it is important to remember, once beginning, to take the pill about the same time every day (plus or minus one hour).

  • I missed one of my birth control pills. What do I do now?

    When taking birth control pills, it is important to remember to take your active pills about the same time every day. However, if you do miss an active pill, there are steps you can take to get back on track.

    • If you miss one active pill, take it as soon as you remember. Take your next pill at your regularly scheduled time; this could mean taking two pills in one day.
    • If you miss two active pills in a row, take two pills on the day you remember and take two pills the next day. Then take one active pill daily.
    • If you miss three active pills in a row, you may start a withdrawal bleed. If you are taking a monophasic pill (a pill that contains the same amount of hormones in each pill), you can start taking your pills where you left off, skipping the placebo pills and go to a new pack of pills. If you are taking a tri-phasic pill (a pill that contains varied levels of hormones), once you have started a withdrawal bleed, start a new pack of pills, using a backup method for seven days.
  • I’m almost out of birth control. How do I get more?

    If you are approaching the time for your annual exam, make an appointment for your annual exam, and your provider at Redfern will refill your prescription at that time.

    If your prescription will run out before your next annual appointment, there is no need to run out of birth control pills. Simply call and schedule a 15-minute appointment with your provider. You can also come to Redfern and ask to be seen in the Nurse’s Clinic where you will be provided with a prescription to last you until your next annual exam.

  • I have just started taking the pill and have spotting. What should I do?

    During the first few months of taking the pill, your body will be adjusting to the introduction of hormones, so you might experience spotting between withdrawal bleeds, called breakthrough bleeding. If you continue to experience breakthrough bleeding after three cycles on your pill, you should make an appointment to change your birth control prescription. Emotional changes lasting more than three weeks warrant a change in birth control, and you should make an appointment to change your prescription.

  • There’s been a change in my period. Should I be concerned?

    If you have started taking birth control, there’s no need to be concerned. Withdrawal bleeds on birth control usually are lighter, shorter and less painful. If the period/withdrawal bleed is heavier, longer or more painful, you will need to make an appointment with a Sexual Health and Gynecology provider at Redfern.

  • I think I might be pregnant. What should I do?

    If you have concerns about pregnancy, schedule an appointment with a Sexual Health and Gynecology provider at Redfern. We can address these concerns and provide you with reliable testing. Serum and urine testing is available through Student Health Services' laboratory. Urine test results are available in five to 10 minutes, while serum blood test results take 12 to 24 hours.

  • What is emergency contraceptive and how can I get it?

    Emergency contraceptive is a backup birth control method that can prevent pregnancy after unprotected sex or when other methods of contraception fail. It is most effective if taken immediately after unprotected intercourse has occurred. If taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex, studies show that pregnancy can be reduced by 89 percent, and while the percentage decreases over time, emergency contraception can be effective up to 120 hours after unprotected intercourse.

    If you are 18 years or older, you do not need a prescription to obtain emergency contraception. Redfern’s pharmacy offers the emergency contraception Plan B. For privacy, a notepad is located at the pharmacy window for requesting Plan B or refills on other medications. If you are not sure that you need emergency contraception, please feel free to call Student Health Services' Sexual Health and Gynecology providers.

  • I think I’ve been exposed to an STI. Does Student Health Services really perform confidential STI testing?

    Yes. All visits, medical or psychological, are strictly confidential. Your medical records cannot be released without your written consent except in the event of a life-threatening medical emergency, under subpoena or for reporting certain contagious diseases.

  • I think I’ve been sexually assaulted. What should I do?

    If you think you have been sexually assaulted, it is important that you take the following steps.

    DO

    • Go to a safe place
    • Call someone you trust for support
    • Call 911
    • Seek medical attention as soon as possible

    If the attack occurred in the last 72 hours, it is important that you do not do any of the things listed below before going to the emergency room. If you believe you were given a date rape drug, be sure to tell the emergency room personnel.

    DO NOT

    • Shower
    • Urinate
    • Defecate
    • Douche
    • Drink
    • Eat
    • Smoke
    • Comb your hair
    • Change your clothes

    Contact CU CARES at 864-656-2451 to obtain counseling services or to see what support services are available to you.

    Additional Resources

1Gender and human rights. (n.d.). Retrieved from URL

Student Health Services
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Student Health Services | Redfern Health Center, 735 McMillan Road, Clemson, SC 29634
P: 864-656-2233 | F: 800-747-3293 |