Contributed by NU Sexual Health Advocacy, Resources, & Education (SHARE)
So, you’re sexually active…what now?
GETTING TESTED
If you become or remain sexually active when you arrive at Northeastern, you should get tested for STIs/HIV regularly, especially since often STIs do not show outward symptoms. Getting tested, however, can seem like a daunting task in a new environment: Where do you go? How do you pay? Fortunately, there are several clinics in Boston to choose from, as listed below:
UHCS
Forsyth building, first floor
70 Forsyth Street
Boston, MA 02115
Planned Parenthood Boston
1055 Commonwealth Avenue
Boston, MA 02215
Phone: 800.258.4448
Fenway Health, multiple locations
617.267.0159
Ansin Building
1340 Boylston Street
Boston, MA 02215
617.927.6000
Walk-in or by appointment
Fenway: South End
142 Berkeley Street
Boston, MA 02116
617.247.7555
By appointment only
Sidney Borum Junior Health Center
75 Kneeland Street, Boston 02111
617.457.8140
By appointment only
Project Trust
721 Massachusetts Avenue
Boston, MA 02118
Walk-in hours, no appointment necessary
Whittier Street Health Center
1290 Tremont Street
Roxbury, MA 02120
By appointment or walk-in
Now, what do you do with these resources? The location you choose may be based on what and how you’re willing to pay for these services. If you have insurance, all insurance plans under the Affordable Care Act should cover certain preventative care procedures, including STI testing. There should be no co-pay or lab fees. However, if you have not gotten tested on your current insurance plan, it’s a good idea to call your insurance company to make sure your plan has rolled over to meet the ACA’s standards. Your insurance might not cover, or only cover a part of, your testing fees.
There may be many reasons why you might not feel comfortable using your insurance policy to get tested, especially if you are a dependent on your parents’ insurance and don’t want them to know. If you choose not to use your insurance or do not have insurance, don’t worry! Several of these places, like Fenway Health, offer testing free of charge; others, like Planned Parenthood, offer sliding-scale payment plans; UHCS offers self-pay testing that does not charge your insurance or send home a bill of services (for example, they charge $25 to test HIV, $25 to test chlamydia and gonorrhea, etc.)
Before you get tested, remember to check the clinic’s website or call ahead for walk-in hours, appointment times, payment plans, etc.
For more information about STIs/HIV, visit Planned Parenthood’s website at www.plannedparenthood.org.
Northeastern University Sexual Health, Advocacy, Resources, and Education (NU SHARE) is a student organization that promotes sexual and reproductive health on campus while also fighting for reproductive justice. SisterSong defines reproductive justice as “the human right to maintain personal bodily autonomy, have children, not have children, and parent the children we have in safe and sustainable communities.” At SHARE, we aim to raise awareness of issues surrounding reproductive justice by facilitating weekly discussions and hosting events.
SHARE is also an affiliate of Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts and works to connect Planned Parenthood resources to all members of the NU community.