Sexual Health FAQ's

Health Promotion offers confidential HIV Antibody Testing to all registered USF students who are eligible to use Student Health Services. The cost of the test is $30.

Below is a list of community agencies that offer confidential and/or anonymous testing:

Tampa Bay AIDS Network (TBAN) 813-769-5180

Hillsborough County Health Department 813-307-8000

Planned Parenthood 813-980-3555

THAP Tampa Hillsborough Action Plan 813-769-5180

Metro Charities 813-232-3808

What type of STI (Sexually Transmitted Infections) testing is available at Student Health Services?

STI screenings are available at Student Health Services. Specific tests and costs can be discussed at the time of a visit with a nurse or provider. Interested students can walk into Student Health Services during business hours (8:30 am to 5 pm) and ask to speak with a nurse to discuss various options and costs. Screening options and costs may vary, depending on a student's symptoms (or lack there of) and needs.

What are some signs and symptoms of STIs?

There are many different types of infections that can be transmitted from person to person by sexual contact. Sexually Transmitted Infections or STIs can affect a person in many ways. Many people (especially women) do not have any of the symptoms (a symptomatic) that are listed below AND, even if a person has these symptoms, it doesn't mean a person has an STD. Generally, however, if a person is experiencing any of the following symptoms and is sexually active, it is recommended that he/she visits his/her health care provider or Student Health Services.

Symptoms include:

Women:

unusual discharge from the vagina
pain, burning or itching around the vagina
pain in the pelvic area or abdomen, sometimes with fever or chills
bleeding other than your usual period
sores or blisters on the genitals or in the mouth

Men:

discharge from the end of the penis
pain or burning when urinating
swelling around the groin
sores or blisters on the genitals or in the mouth
flu-like symptoms such as fever chills, aches in the joints or muscles

Source: ASHA

Where can a student go to get free condoms?

Health Promotion provides free condoms. Five are in a bag and are found just inside the door of Health Promotion.

Are birth control pills available at Student Health Services?

SHS is no longer filling oral contraceptive orders. Please contact the Bulls Country Pharmacy for you oral contraceptive refill.

Are other birth control options available besides birth control pills?

Yes. Students can purchase the patch, the ring, and the shot at reduced costs with an updated annual examination. By calling the birth control Refill Hotline students can refill their prescription for the patch or the ring. The Refill Hotline is 974-7474. Students can also make appointments with Health Promotion for contraception counseling to explore different options.

Can students get birth control pills if they haven't had an annual exam at Student Health Services?

Yes. Students may bring medical records into Student Health Services from their current provide. Call 813-974-9174 for further information regarding the necessary records. Student Health Services providers cannot fill prescriptions from outside practitioners.

How does the birth control pill work?

Combined pills keep the ovaries from releasing eggs (ovulation). Progestin-only pills can also prevent ovulation, but they work mainly by thickening the cervical mucus. This prevents the sperm from joining with the egg. Combination pills may also thicken the cervical mucus. Both types of pill can also prevent fertilized eggs from implanting in the uterus.

The Pill is one of the most effective reversible methods of birth control available to women in the U.S. Of every 100 women who use the Pill, only five will become pregnant during the first year of typical use. Women who take the Pill correctly every day have less than a one-percent chance of getting pregnant.

Birth control pills work best if taken at the same time every day. Pregnancy can happen if an error is made in using the Pill - especially if:

Pills are started too late in the cycle.
Two or more pills are missed in a row.
Pills are taken in the wrong order.

Source: Planned Parenthood

For more information about birth control pills, see a health care provider. If you are a student at USF and would like more information about birth control pills, call 813-974-9174. For information about the Student Health Services Women's Clinic, call 813-974-1870.

How can I get the emergency contraception (morning after pill)?

Student Health Services offers emergency contraception for approximately $25. Women who are interested in ECP/MAP can walk-in to Student Health Services during business hours (8:30 am to 5 pm) and ask to speak with a nurse to be screened - no information needs to be given to front desk staff as to the nature of the visit. To be most effective, it is recommended that ECP/MAP is used within 72 hours of unprotected intercourse. Use of ECP (in case of a future need) can also be discussed during an annual exam in the Women's Clinic.

If someone is not eligible for services at Student Health Services or would like to obtain emergency contraception after Student Health Services hours, places that provide this service can be obtained by calling 1-888-NOT-2-LATE. This service is available 24 hours a day.

Where can I go if I have concerns about sexual health?

USF Student Health Services	813-974-1223	Gynecological exams and STI screenings available
USF Student Health Services Health Promotion	813-974-4936	Provides info on health issues and offers confidential HIV antibody testing ($30)
Tampa Bay AIDS Network (TBAN)	813-769-5180	Free anonymous HIV testing available, various times
Metro Charities	813-225-1990	Free HIV testing, Monday-Friday 9am-5pm
THAP Tampa-Hillsborough Action Plan	813-226-2141	Free anonymous and confidential HIV antibody testing and Free pregnancy testing, various times
Hillsborough County Health Department	813-307-8000	Pregnancy tests, blood and lab work, treatment, pap smears. Anonymous and confidential testing available for $25-$30.
Planned Parenthood	813-980-3555	Gynecological exams, STI screenings, HIV antibody testing
National STI Hotline	1-800-FLA-AIDS
Advice on Herpes and HPV	1-800-ADVICE-8
HPV Hotline	1-877-HPV-5868	Monday-Friday, 2-7 pm
Tampa Bay Herpes Support Group	813-677-1633
Pinellas County Health Department	727-547-7780
Pasco County Health Department	727-862-0782

What's the difference between Vaginitis, Bacterial Vaginosis and a Urinary Tract Infection ?

Vaginitis is a name for swelling, itching, burning or infection in the vagina that can be caused by several different microorganisms. The most common kinds of vaginitis are bacterial vaginosis (BV) and yeast, a fungus. Sometimes trichomoniasis (trich, pronounced "trick") is called vaginitis too. Trichomoniasis is caused by a parasitic protozoa called Trichomonas vaginalis.

Bacterial Vaginosis causes symptoms such as a strong fishy smell, especially after sex, white or grey discharge, watery or foamy discharge. Some cases, however, are so mild that women don't know they have it. If you have symptoms of vaginitis, see your health care provider for a correct diagnosis. Prescription medication, usually antibiotics, depending on the organism causing the infection is used to treat and/or cure BV. For more information, click here.

Yeast infections cause symptoms such as thick, white "cottage cheese" discharge, pain, itching, burning, or redness around the vagina, a smell like baking bread. If you have symptoms of vaginitis, see your health care provider for a correct diagnosis.

Trichomoniasis causes symptoms such as discharge that is green, yellow or grey, a bad smell, itching in or around the vagina, pain during sex, pain when peeing (urinating).

Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) are so common that most women and some men get at least one at some point in their lives. They are usually caused by bacteria, such as E. coli, which travel from the colon to the urethra and bladder (and occasionally the kidneys). Trichomoniasis and chlamydia can also cause UTIs; stress, low resistance, poor diet, damage to the urethra from childbirth, surgery, etc., can predispose a person to getting them as well. Often, a sudden increase in sexual activity triggers a case of "honeymoon cystitis," or urinary tract infection.

Cystitis is the most common form of UTI. It is rarely serious if treated. Symptoms may include:

Feeling the need to urinate every few minutes
Burning during urination
Urinating with little urine produced
Blood in the urine
Pain in the pubic region

UTIs are usually treated with antibiotics. Untreated UTIs can lead to serious infections of the kidneys. If you think you have a urinary tract infection, see your health care provider for correct diagnosis and treatment.

Source: Go Ask Alice, ASHA

What is a pap smear?

Routine pelvic examinations include both an internal and an external exam. Part of the internal exam consists of a pap smear. The pap smear is a screening test for cervical cancer. The smears do not actually detect disease and tests are not automatically done for STIs. The Pap Smear identifies inflammation and infection in the cervical area that may be evidence of abnormalities in the cervical cells. Younger women may be more vulnerable to infection since the surface of their cervixes contain relatively immature, less resistant cells, emphasizing the importance of annual gynecological exams for young women.

The pap smear entails the provider using a cotton-tipped swab or other similar long-stemmed instrument to collect a sample of the cells in the cervix. Some women feel a slight cramping when their cervix is touched. The collected cells are mounted on a slide and sent to a lab, where it will be examined by a technician. The pap smear does not test for pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, vaginal infections or other types of gynecological problems.

Source: Planned Parenthood, Go Ask Alice

When should females get pap smears?

It is recommended that women have their first gynecological exam by the time they're 18 or as soon as they become sexually active (note sexually active includes oral, anal and/or vaginal sex).

Source: Planned Parenthood

What is included in the annual exam offered at Student Health Services?

Pap Smear (Thin Prep)
Full physical exam including pelvic and breast exam
Hemoglobin and urinalysis screening

What should I expect during my first gynecological exam?

You can use this experience to learn more about your body as well as yourself. Let your provider know that this is your first exam and ask her/him to explain each procedure. Routine pelvic examinations include both an external and an internal exam.

First, the health care provider will examine your vulva (inner and outer lips), clitoris, and vaginal opening. After that, s/he will look inside your vagina using a speculum, which may be the most unfamiliar part of the exam. A speculum is usually a metal or plastic instrument used to hold your vaginal walls apart. It may be a bit uncomfortable -- even though this may seem impossible, relax, it does get easier with practice. The provider will examine your vaginal walls for lesions, inflammation, or unusual discharge, and will also check your cervix for the same.

S/he will collect a sample of cells from your cervix using a swab. This part of the internal exam is called a Pap smear. Some women feel a slight cramping when the cells are being gathered. The collected cervical cells are then sent to a lab to check for abnormal cell growth and to screen for cervical cancer. The Pap smear does not test for pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), vaginal infections, or other types of gynecological problems.

It's important for young women to get an annual gynecological exam. They may be vulnerable to cervical infection since the surface of their cervixes contains relatively immature, less resistant cells. Early detection and treatment can reduce future complications.

Source: Go Ask Alice

How often should women get pap smears?

A woman should have a routine GYN exam every year if she is sexually active or over age 18.

Is the ThinPrep Pap Test available at Student Health Services?

Yes. For more information on the cost of Thin Prep please call 813-974-2331. The ThinPrep Pap Test detects more cases of cancer in the early stages than other Pap tests. This is crucial since cervical cancer is almost 100% curable when detected early. Studies have shown that compared to the conventional Pap smear, the Thin Prep improves the quality of the specimen which increases the detection of precancerous cells.

Where can I go if I have been sexually assaulted?

If you have been a victim of sexual violence, there are a number of options available to you. First, go to a safe place. USF Advocacy Program can offer assistance and support in the event of a crisis. For more information, call 813-974-5757 or visit http://usfweb.usf.edu/advocacy/.

If you have been raped, you may wish to make a police report. If so, you will want to save all evidence. To save evidence, it is important not to bathe, shower, brush your teeth, urinate, defecate or douche. Also, do not change or wash your clothes or any other area where evidence may be found. Your clothes will be kept as evidence. Call a rape crisis center for information and support.

If you do not want to report to the police, it is still important to take good care of yourself. You may wish to make an appointment with your physician to be screened for sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancy. Advocates are available to advise you of medical and therapeutic resources available on campus and in the tri-county area. Our services are confidential. If you would like to speak with an advocate right away, call the crisis line at (813) 974-5757. Advocates can also offer you support information and follow-up.

If you prefer to speak with someone not affiliated with USF, you can call the Hillsborough County Crisis Center at 813-234-1234.

Florida Statutes define rape as the oral, anal or vaginal penetration by or union with the sexual organ of another or the anal or vaginal penetration of another by any other object except for bona fide medical purposes.

If an individual is unable to give consent to sex, the contact mentioned above is rape. This means that if a person is drunk, passed out, sleeping, physically helpless or mentally incapacitated, that person is unable to give consent and having sex with them is rape. Even if drugs and alcohol were involved, the rapist is always responsible for the rape.

Source: USF Advocacy Program