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The Well for Health Promotion promotes sexual health by providing programs, services, and resources that are inclusive, holistic, and evidence-based. Our staff at The Health Center provides high quality, medical sexual health care.
Sexual and reproductive health is an important part of your overall well-being. The clinicians at the Health Center offer many services to Tulane students that support most common sexual and reproductive health needs. These services include STI testing, PrEP, gynecological services and screenings, transgender health services, and many others. For more information, please visit the link below or call 504-865-5255 (Uptown) or 504-988-6929 (Downtown) during business hours.
Learn more here.
Campus Health is committed to providing caring, high quality, and confidential services to our campus community, inclusive of all sexual orientations and gender identities.
To meet the health and wellness needs of all campus community members, the various Campus Health offices provide numerous programs and services specifically for the LGBTQ+ community. Whether you need primary care, preventive health services, mental health care, or you are looking for general health and wellness information, our staff of physicians, nurse practitioners, therapists, health educators, and other health professionals are ready to help.
Learn more here.
At Tulane, Campus Health offers two types of STI testing options:
GYT Clinic
a quick and easy way for Tulane students to get screened for sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
Learn more here.
STI Testing
A comprehensive appointment that includes STI testing and doctor’s consultation.
Learn more here.
Check out this video with frequency asked questions about the STI/GYT Clinics:
The Well for Health Promotion provides free safer sex supplies to all Tulane students.
Pick up supplies for yourself from the following locations:
Safer sex supply options include:
For videos with step by step instructions for how to use dental dams, internal condoms, external condoms, and lube, click here!
What is the difference between hormonal and non-hormonal birth control?
What types of hormonal birth control exist?
What types of non-hormonal birth control exist?
How do I choose a method?
There are many methods of contraception to choose from and it is worth taking the time to find out more about each one so that you can choose contraception that suits you. If you are still not sure talk to your healthcare provider about the best method for you.
| Method | How well does it work? | How to use | Advantage | Disadvantages |
| Birth Control Implant | 99% effective | The birth control implant (AKA Nexplanon) is a tiny, thin rod about the size of a matchstick. The implant releases hormones into your body that prevent you from getting pregnant. A nurse or doctor inserts the implant under the skin of your upper arm. |
Protects against pregnancy and are super effective Lasts for a long time – up to 5 years, but it is not permanent Convenient and private Make your periods better Only one hormone You can get pregnant after taking out your implant |
Does not protect against STIs (sexually transmitted infections) Can have negative side effects |
|
Intrauterine Device (IUD) |
99% effective | The intrauterine device is basically a device inside your uterus. It is a small piece of flexible plastic shaped like a T. A doctor or nurse puts the IUD in through your vagina into your uterus. IUDs can be put in at any point in your menstrual cycle, and you can usually get one put in right after giving birth or having an abortion. |
One of the best ways to prevent pregnancy and they last for years It works until it expires, or you have it taken out You can get pregnant after taking it out IUDS can make your periods better Copper IUD does not have hormones The copper IUD can be used as emergency contraception |
IUD side effects: pain, cramping, backaches, spotting between periods, irregular periods, heavier periods, and worse menstrual cramps No protection against STIs |
| Birth Control Shot | 94% effective | The birth control shot (also know as the depo shot; Depo-Provera) is an injection you get once every 3 months. The shot contains the hormone progestin. Progestin stops you from getting pregnancy by preventing ovulation. You must remember to get a new shot every 12-13 weeks (every 3 months or 4 times a year). The shot requires a prescription and usually a doctor or a nurse must give you the shot. |
The shot is effective at preventing pregnancy The shot is convenient and private The shot can make you get your period less often while you use it The shot has health benefits The shot is temporary, so you can get pregnant after you stop using it if you want to |
The shot does not protect against STIs You must get an injection every 3 months There can be negative side effects while you use the shot If may take up to 10 months after stopping the birth control to get pregnant |
| Birth Control Vaginal Ring | 91% effective | The birth control ring (AKA NuvaRing) is a safe and convenient birth control method that works well if you always use it correctly. You wear the small, flexible ring inside your vagina, and it prevents pregnancy by releasing hormones into your body. To use the ring most effectively, you must use it correctly and every month. |
NuvaRing is an effective way to prevent pregnancy NuvaRing is convenient The ring can make your periods better Has health benefits You can get pregnant right away when you stop using the ring |
You must change NuvaRing on time There can be negative side effects There can be some rare but serious risks |
| Birth Control Patch | 91% effective | Like most birth control pills, the patch contains the hormones estrogen and progestin. These mimic the hormones our bodies make naturally. You wear the patch on your belly, upper arm, butt, or back, and your skin absorbs the hormones into your body. The hormones in the patch stop ovulation. No ovulation means there is no egg hanging around for sperm to fertilize, so pregnancy cannot happen. The patch’s hormones also thicken the mucus on your cervix. This thicker cervical mucus blocks sperm so it cannot swim to an egg. |
The patch is an effective way to prevent pregnancy (when used correctly) The patch is convenient The patch can make your periods better The patch has health benefits You can get pregnant right away when you stop using the patch |
Does not protect against STIs You must change the patch on time There can be negative side effects There can be some rare but serious risks |
| Birth Control Pill | 91% effective | Birth control pills are a kind of medicine with hormones. The pills come in a pack, and you take 1 pill every day at or around the same time. It is safe, affordable, and effective if you always take your pill on time. The pills work by stopping sperm from joining with an egg because the hormones in the pill stop ovulation. |
The pill is an effective way to prevent pregnancy The pill has health benefits The pill can make your periods better You can get pregnant right away when you stop taking the pill The pill is convenient |
The pill does not protect against STIs You must take the pill every day There can be negative side effects There can be some rare but serious risks |
| External Condom | 85% effective | Condoms are thin, stretchy pouches that you wear on your penis or sex toy during any kind of sexual activity. Condoms provide great protection from both pregnancy and STIs. They are easy to use and easy to get. To use, first check that the packaging has not been tampered with and make sure the condom is not expired by checking the date. Next, open the package without using your teeth or any sharp object. Hold the tip of the condom, place the condom rolled-side up on the tip of the penis or sex toy, and gently roll down the condom. |
Condoms are effective against STIs Condoms do not cost much and are convenient Condoms help other methods of birth control work even better Condoms have no side effects |
You must use a condom every time you have sex Condoms can take some getting used to |
| Internal Condom | 79% effective |
Internal condoms are an alternative to regular condoms. They provide pretty much the same great protection from pregnancy and STIs. What is different about them? Internal condoms go inside the vagina for pregnancy prevention or into the vagina or anus for protection from STIs. For a long time, they were called “female condoms: However, people of any gender can use them for vaginal or anal sex. To use an internal condom for vaginal sex, first check that the packaging has not been tampered with and make sure the condom is not expired by checking the date. Next, open the package without using your teeth or any sharp object. The internal condom has a two rings. Pinch or twist into a figure-eight the smaller inner ring and use your finder to gently guide the inner ring into the vagina. Push until the ring reopens around the round surface of the cervix. Make sure the outer ring is outside of your body covering the vaginal opening. To use an internal condom for anal sex, first check that the packaging has not been tampered with and make sure the condom is not expired by checking the date. Next, open the package without using your teeth or any sharp object. The internal condom has a two rings; remove the smaller inner ring. Place a clean finger inside of the condom and gently guide the internal condom into your anus. Make sure the outer ring is outside of your body covering the anus. |
Internal condoms help prevent STIs They’re latex-free and comfortable Internal condoms can increase sexual pleasure Internal condoms give you control |
You have to use a new one every time you have vaginal or anal sex – and you have to use them correctly Internal condoms take some time getting used to |
| Dental Dam | Does NOT prevent pregnancy | Dental dams or dams for short are thin, square pieces of latex that help prevent STIs during oral sex on a vulva or anus. Dams protect you by keeping vaginal fluids out of your mouth, and preventing skin-to-skin contact between your mouth and a vulva or anus. They also protect you during oral-to-anal sex from germs that can cause digestive infections. |
Dams are easy to use You can open an external condom and lay it flat on your partner’s vulva or anus They are available at the Health Centers |
May be difficult to find in stores or pharmacies outside of campus If not made or purchased in advance, can be a burden to prepare in the moment of sex Does not protect against pregnancy |
| PrEP | 90% effective at preventing HIV contraction; Does NOT prevent pregnancy | PrEP stands for pre-exposure prophylaxis. It’s a daily pill that can help prevent HIV. If you don’t have HIV, taking PrEP every day can lower your chances of getting HIV from sex by more than 90%. PrEP is also known by the brand name Truvada. |
If you use it correctly, PrEP can lower your chances of getting HIV from sex
You can get a prescription for PrEP at the SHC. |
You have to take PrEP every day. PrEP does not work as well if you skip doses PrEP may cause side effects like nausea, loss of appetite, and headaches |
| Withdrawl Method ("Pulling out" | 78% effective | Pulling out is exactly what it sounds like: pulling the penis out of the vagina before ejaculation (aka cumming). If semen (cum) gets inside a vagina, one can get pregnant. |
It is free and it is always available The pull-out method has no side effects Pulling out makes other forms of birth control even more effective |
It is hard to pull out in time
|
| Fertility Awareness | 76-86% effective | Fertility Awareness methods (FAMs) are ways to track your ovulation so you can prevent pregnancy. FAMs are also called “natural family planning” and “the rhythm method”. |
Nonhormonal and requires no supplies or interventions
|
Diffcult to perfect and if not done perfectly, can result in pregnancy. Does NOT prevent STIs |
| Outercourse & abstinence | 100% | People are abstinent for lots of different reasons. Sometimes people use abstinence as birth control to prevent pregnancy. Abstinence can mean different things depending on who you ask. Using outercourse as birth control means you do some sexual activities, but you do not have vaginal sex (penis-in-vagina) or get any semen (cum) in the vagina. This way, the sperm calls in semen can’t get to an egg and cause pregnancy. |
Simple, free, and work well to prevent pregnancy 100% effective way to avoid pregnancy and STIs Outercourse really lowers your risk a lot |
Avoiding sex can be hard for some people If you plan on being abstinent but end up having vaginal sex, pregnancy can happen if you do not use birth control Some types of outercourse can spread STIs |
| Emergency Contraception | Varies depending on method |
There are 2 ways to prevent pregnancy after you have unprotected sex: Option 1: Get a Paragard IUD within 120 hours (5 days) after having unprotected sex. This is the most effective type of emergency contraception. Option 2: Take an emergency contraceptive pill (AKA the morning-after pill) within 120 hours (5 days) after having unprotected sex. This is the most effective type of emergency contraception. |
The IUD is the most effective type of EC – it works 99 times out of 100, no matter your weight You can get the Paragard IUD inserted or take ella up to 5 days (120 hours) after unprotected sex Morning after pills work best when you take them quickly after unprotected sex |
There can be negative side effects Does not protect against STIs, nor does it treat existing infections |
Best at Preventing Pregnancy
Easiest to Use
Helps with Periods
Helps Prevent STIs
Doctor or Nurse Required
Less or No Hormones
Tulane and Loyola students may walk into the pharmacy on the third floor of the Student Health Center and receive free emergency contraction during open business hours. Students are not required to have a health insurance plan nor do they need a prescription to access the emergency contraception.
What is EC?
Emergency contraception (aka the morning after pill) is birth control that you use after you have had unprotected sex—if you did not use birth control or your regular birth control failed. Emergency contraception should be used as soon as possible within three to five days after unprotected sex to prevent pregnancy. ECPs are more effective the sooner you take them. Emergency contraception does not work if you are already pregnant.
You can use emergency contraception to prevent pregnancy if:
If you use emergency contraception correctly after you have unprotected sex, it makes it much less likely that you’ll get pregnant. But don’t use it regularly as your only protection from pregnancy, because it’s not as effective as regular, non-emergency birth control methods (like the IUD, pill, or condoms).
What types of emergency contraception exists?
There are 2 types of morning-after pills:
A pill with levonorgestrel. Brand names include: Plan B One Step, Take Action, My Way, AfterPill, and others.
A pill with ulipristal acetate. There’s only one brand, called ella.
Coming Soon
How to use Dental Dams
How to use External Condoms
How to use Internal Condoms
The Low Down on Lube
Queer-Inclusive Guide to Anal Sex
Queer-Inclusive Guide to Oral Sex
Queer-Inclusive Guide to Vaginal Sex
Why are they called STDs vs STIs?
While the terms can be used interchangeably, Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) is often used instead of Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD). This is because STI is inclusive of both symptomatic and asymptomatic infections. Using the term STI also helps reduce stigma, especially since they are so common—more than half of all of us will get an STI at some point in our lives and 1 in 3 sexually active people under the age of 25 has an STI.
How can I protect myself from spreading or getting an STI?
Although anyone who is sexually active can get an STI, there are lots of ways to protect yourself and your partner(s):
How do I know if I have an STI?
The only way to know you have an STI is to get tested. The most common STI symptom is actually a lack of symptoms or mild symptoms that get disregarded for something else. This means that most people with STIs don’t even know they have one until they get tested. Not getting treatment can also lead to long term health effects such as infertility, urinary tract and liver problems, and cancers. No STI is harmless so it’s best to get tested and treated!
How soon can I be tested?
Some STIs can be treated within a few days, while others take weeks or even monthly to become detectable. A window period is the time it takes for STIs to become detectable by If you have been exposed to an STI and are tested while in the window period, your test result may not be as accurate. The window period is 10 days for the chlamydia and gonorrhea test, and 3 months for the HIV test. It is best to schedule an appointment when you are out of the window period, if possible. It's important to note that you can still transmit STIs to your partner while you are in the window period.
How often should I get tested?
This depends. If you are sexually active, you should aim to be tested at least once per year. If you engage with multiple partners, it’s a good idea to get tested more frequently, perhaps every 3-6 months. If you’ve had unprotected sex, have a new partner (or more than one partner), or for any reason are worried you have been exposed to an STI, talk to your healthcare provider about getting tested. The bottom line is that it is up to you and it depends on you and your lifestyle!
When is STI testing appropriate?
If you're sexually active, it’s important to get tested on a regular basis, especially if you have more than one partner
What's the difference between treatable and curable?
All STIs are treatable and many STIs are curable. STIs can either be caused by viruses, bacteria, or parasites. Bacterial and parasitic STIs are treated by antibiotics and other medications and thus often curable. Viral STIs such as HIV, HPV, Herpes, and Hepatitis—the four Hs—generally have no cure, but many symptoms can be alleviated with treatment.
What should I do if I am showing symptoms?
Make an appointment with a provider at the student health center or with a provider in the community as soon as possible. They will help you get tested for STIs and get treatment.
How should I inform my partners?
Be honest. There is nothing shameful about having an STI. Let them know the facts and encourage them to also get tested and seek treatment. Decide how much information you feel comfortable sharing and set boundaries. For more ideas on how to comfortably and safely disclose your status, check here or here. You can also let your partner(s) know completely anonymously that they should get tested by sending them a text message!
Can I get an STI from oral sex?
You sure can. Although oral sex is often considered “safer” than vaginal or anal sex, you can get STIs from both giving or receiving oral sex. Many STIs including chlamydia, gonorrhea, and herpes can be transmitted through oral sex. It is a good idea to use barrier methods like condoms (internal or external) or dental dams in order to prevent fluid transfer and reduce your risk of catching an STI.
How do I ask my partner about their status?
If you can, try to have the conversation before things start heating up. One strategy is to sandwich the conversation between positive things you feel about the relationship.
Can I get an STI more than once?
After getting treatment, your body does not build immunity to any bacterial or parasitic STI so you can get a STI multiple times. You can prevent reinfection by completing your entire treatment, having your partner(s) get tested and treated, and practicing safer sex.
Tulane's Student Health Center offers a variety of health, wellness, and sexual health services for the Trans and GNC students at both the Uptown and Downtown locations. These services include general preventative care, gender- affirming hormone replacement therapy, PrEP/PEP, and counseling on birth control and safer sex methods. To learn more about these services, please click here or call the SHC at (504)865-5255.
Check out these great online resources that are specifically designed to be trans-centered and sex positive.
Sex Communication Checklist
Use this checklist from Scarleteen to help you think through and evaluate your sexual wants, needs, and limits. You can even decide to share your answers with a partner or use some of the questions to guide conversations with each other.
Sex Ed Quickies: Sex Communication
Watch this video from the Well's Health Promotion team focused on talking about sex and communicating with partners.
Watch this video by the Well's Health Promotion team talking about masturbation as sexual self-care.
Use this link if you suspect you are infected with COVID-19 or have come in contact with someone who is infected.
