Student Health Center

Women’s Health Care

The Student Health Center physicians provide routine gynecological care, including an annual Pap smear, as well as diagnosis and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases, contraceptive counseling and prescriptions, pregnancy testing and counseling, emergency contraception (EC), and information on disease prevention. To schedule an examination, please call the Student Health Center at (804) 289-8064. To ask clinical questions, call the Dial-A-Nurse at (804) 289-8700.

Contraceptives

If you are interested in starting birth control, review the information and links on this page, then print out and complete the Birth Control Questionnaire.  Return the form to the SHC by campus mail or drop it off at the front desk. If you do not hear back from a nurse in one to two business days, give us a call to set up an appointment.

For information about birth control choices, review Which Birth Control Option is Right for Me?

Please read FAQs about Birth Control Pills to learn more about this option. 

Emergency Contraception

In the event of unprotected sex or contraceptive failure, emergency contraception may be effective in preventing pregnancy.  Commonly referred to as the "Morning After Pill," the medication Plan B is most effective when taken as soon as possible after unprotected sex.  Plan B is available without a prescription at most pharmacies.  You must be at least 17 years old and will need to show government-issued ID (i.e., driver's license or travel visa). For more information, refer to Plan B Information and 72-hour calendar.

If you have questions concerning emergency contraception, you may call Dial-A-Nurse (804) 289-8700.

Discount Programs for Birth Control Pills

Walmart Pharmacy, Target Pharmacy, and Kroger Pharmacy - $9.00
Brands offered: Sprintec 28-day (comparable to OrthoCyclen), Tri-Sprintec 28-day (comparable to Ortho Tricyclen)

Pap Smears

A pelvic exam and Pap smear (or Pap test) are an important part of routine health care for women.  Understanding Pap Tests may help answer your questions about the test.  For the most accurate Pap test, asbstain from sexual intercourse, and don't douche or use tampons (or any other vaginal medications or lubricants) for three days prior to the Pap test.

The SHC uses a liquid-based "mono-layer" type of Pap test called Thin-Prep.  Compared to a conventional Pap test, Thin Prep allows for more accurate screening of cervical cells. If atypical (not normal) cells are detected, the specimen will be tested for high-risk HPV (Human Papilloma Virus), the most likely cause of abnormal cervical cells.  STD (sexually transmitted disease) testing for chlamydia and gonorrhea may also be performed using the Thin Prep Pap test.

For a Pap test done at the SHC, results usually are available within 2 weeks.  If you haven't been notified with results of your Pap test after 2 weeks, please call the UR Dial-A-Nurse.  Occasionally Pap test results may be "abnormal."  To learn more about this, see our information on Abnormal Pap Test Results.  If you have further questions, call the UR Dial-A-Nurse.

Other resources for a Pap smear:

Cervical Cancer Prevention

Gardasil, a vaccine that helps prevent cervical cancer and other diseases caused by Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), is now available. To obtain Gardasil from the SHC, call Dial-A-Nurse at (804) 289-8700 to schedule an appointment. The vaccine consists of a series of three injections given over a six-month period.  The cost of each injection is approximately $150.

HPV vaccine Questions and Answers

You may also call Short Pump Ukrop’s Pharmacy, 3460 Pump Road at (804) 360-1487 to schedule an appointment to receive the Gardasil injections. Bring your insurance card.

Sexually Transmitted Infection (STIs)

Learn all about STDs—the symptoms, how they are spread and the treatments using the following resources:

  • CDC HIV and STI Hotlines (800) 342-2437, (800) 227-8922, (800) 533-4148
For testing, use the following resources:
  • UR Student Health Center (804) 289-8700
  • Fan Free Clinic (804) 358-6343
  • VCU-MCV (Medical College of Virginia) (804) 828-2210
  • City of Richmond Health Department (804) 646-6855
  • County of Henrico Health Department (804) 652-3190

Pregnancy Testing

If you think you may be pregnant, call the Dial-A-Nurse at (804) 289-8700 to schedule a urine pregnancy test. Usual signs and symptoms of pregnancy are missed menstrual period (especially if your cycles are regular), irregular bleeding (a period that is unusually light and/or late compared to your normal periods), nausea, fatigue, and breast tenderness. Urine pregnancy testing is free and confidential. A urine pregnancy test may detect HCG (pregnancy hormone) in the urine approximately 10 days after fertilization, meaning you may have a positive pregnancy test before missing a menstrual period.

If your test is negative:

Repeat the pregnancy test in seven to ten days if you do not start your period. It is preferable to test the “first morning urine” when the concentration of HCG is highest.
A serum (blood) pregnancy test, which may detect HCG sooner than a urine test, can be done for a fee of $55.
If you have not had a period for six months or want to discuss your symptoms and/or contraceptive options, schedule an appointment with the SHC.

If your test is positive:

On the day of your test, you may wait to see the doctor or schedule an appointment for tomorrow. You will receive counseling and referrals to address your options, including carrying the pregnancy to full term, adoption and pregnancy termination. It is important to allow yourself time to explore your feelings and options.

Confidential Resources

Student Health Center: (804) 289-8064 or Dial-a-Nurse (804) 289-8700
CAPS (Counseling and Psychological Services): (804) 289-8119
Chaplain’s Office: (804) 289-8500
Westhampton College Dean: (804) 289-8468
Richmond College Dean: (804) 289-8061
Planned Parenthood - Who We Are: (804) 254-1760
Local OB/GYN Physicians

Links of Interest

Web M.D. Health
not-2-late.com 
Back Up Your Birth Control with EC 
American Social Health Association - HPV and Cervical Cancer Prevention Resource Center , Toll-free hotline with info on STDs, 2 p.m.–7 p.m./ Monday–Friday: (877) HPV-5868 
Pilonidal Cyst 
Skin Disease Finder

Sexual Assault or Rape: No One is Immune

Rape is defined as sexual intercourse with a person against their will, by force, threat and/or intimidation. Any situation in which an individual does not provide consent for a sexual act is considered a sexual assault. It is an assertion of power over another; anyone can be a victim. Below are some commonly held mythical beliefs and the real facts.

Myth: Persons who are drunk are willing to engage in any kind of sexual activity.
Fact: The fact that someone has been drinking does not imply consent. Alcohol and drugs can render a person incapable of consent. In Virginia, state law recognizes that when someone is drunk, she or he is unable to give consent. If you have sex with someone who is passed out or incapable of giving consent, it will be considered sexual assault.

Myth: The majority of rapes are committed by strangers.
Fact: Especially on college campuses, the majority of rapes and sexual assaults are committed in a “date” situation.

Myth: It is impossible to sexually assault a man.
Fact: Men are often victims for the same reasons as women. They are overwhelmed by threats or acts of physical and emotional violence.

Myth: It wasn’t rape because the victim did not resist.
Fact: Rape survivors commonly report fearing for their lives and being immobilized by that fear.

Sexual Assault Support at UR Information