Sexual Health Services

BU students can send a message to a nurse in PatientConnect about emergency contraception.  A health care provider will review the questionnaire and follow-up with you to discuss which EC option is right for you.

PatientConnect messages are regularly reviewed during normal SHS Primary Care business hours. The average turnaround time between sending a message and receiving your prescription is twelve hours but could take up to twenty-four hours.

If you have questions or concerns regarding emergency contraception, and it is after normal business hours or the University is closed, you can speak to a nurse on the after-hours emergency medical line at (617) 353-3575. If you need immediate access to EC, you can access it from the EC vending machine or an off-campus health care provider.

Message a nurse about emergency contraception via Patient Connect.

Select: Messages>Primary Care> Ask a Nurse> Emergency Contraception

If you have the Student Health Insurance Plan, you’ll be able to pick up the prescription at no charge. If you have another insurance plan, the cost of the medication will depend on your provider’s policy.

Emergency contraception (a generic Plan B option) is available through two vending machines in the following locations:

• Charles River Campus
  • Basement of the George Sherman Union (GSU) near BU Central for $10.00 (price as of Sept. 2024)
• Medical Campus
  • L-building INS basement, near Chequers Cafe

The price is determined by the medication cost and restocking fee. No profits are made by providing this resource.

The emergency contraception vending machines have been implemented through collaborations with Students for Reproductive Freedom, Boston University Medical Student advocates, Student Health Services, and Vending Services.

Planned Parenthood and local pharmacies like CVS and Walgreens offer emergency contraception (Plan B and other generic pills like it) at the pharmacy counter. If you pay out of pocket (without using health insurance), the cost is typically around $50.

STI testing is recommended for people who are sexually active, are experiencing symptoms, or think they’ve been exposed to an STI. A healthcare provider may recommend STI testing in other circumstances as well. 

STI screening is recommended for people who are sexually active, but not experiencing symptoms or a recent exposure to STIs.

If you’re experiencing symptoms or think you might have been exposed to STIs –

Schedule a free STI testing appointment. Lab results from STI testing will be sent confidentially through PatientConenct messaging. Costs are billed through the health insurance that is currently on file with the University. Students with AETNA or SHIP will pay no out of pocket cost.
Schedule an appointment for STI testing via Patient Connect. 

Select: Appointments > Primary Care > Sexual Health > STI Screening > I have symptoms of a STI and/or known exposure to a STI.

If you’re not experiencing symptoms or had a recent exposure to STIs –

Complete the free, online STI screening.  A nurse will review your responses and determine which tests may be right for you. If tests are recommended, you can get these at SHS without needing an appointment.  Costs for any STI tests (e.g. lab tests) are billed through the health insurance that is currently on file with the University. Students with AETNA or SHIP will pay no out of pocket cost.

Complete and STI screening via Patient Connect. 

Select: Appointments> Primary Care> Sexual Health> STI Screening > I do not have symptoms of a STI.

Because your health insurance would be billed for STI testing, the subscriber of your health insurance plan may receive an Explanation of Benefits (EOB) that states that an STI test was performed. An EOB is a statement from your health insurance plan that may describe health care services delivered, including diagnosis or test codes. This means that if your parent or guardian is the holder of the insurance policy you use, they may see that an STI test was performed. The results of your test at SHS are confidential and are only sent sent to you, not the subscriber of your insurance plan, however, your parent/guardian may still see that a test was performed. 

If you are concerned about your privacy or safety if this information were shared with your parent/guardian, there are ways to avoid having this information shared: 

1. If you have a Massachusetts-based insurance plan, contact your insurance company and request that they keep your health information confidential. 

In Massachusetts, if you are on another person’s insurance plan, you can request that information about care for certain services be kept confidential. You will need to ask that the EOB be sent to you and not the policyholder. State privacy laws protect the following types of care:  

• Sexual and reproductive health (birth control, STI testing, PEP and PrEP, pregnancy and abortion services) 
• Gender-affirming care 
• Services related to sexual assault 
• Mental health services 
• Substance use treatment 

To do this, you will need to locate your subscriber number and contact information for your insurance policy(s). When you call, request the EOB form be sent directly to your address and not to the policyholder, or that you would like to only receive it online instead of receiving a copy in the mail. Your health insurance plan may require you to make the request in writing and will give you instructions for how to do that.  

Here is a script you can use when you call your insurance company:  

• Hi, my name is ______________. My policy number is _____________. 
• I do not want lab test information from __________ (date) through LabCorp to be sent to my parents/guardian.  
• I want the EOB statement to be sent to ____________________(address/email) 

The best time to make this call is before you receive any medical services. However, you can still make this request after you receive health care services, ideally within a few days from the date of service. You can call your insurance company to find out the status of your request or for confirmation.

2. Pay for your STI test(s) out of pocket. 

If your policy is not based in Massachusetts, you can pay for your test(s) yourself. SHS has worked with our lab test provider, LabCorp, to negotiate lower self-pay rates to make this option more accessible to students.   

The following is the full list of STI tests that are available through LabCorp at Student Health Services. You will not need to take every test. SHS will let you know which tests are recommended for your individual situation. 

For a routine, non-symptomatic STI screening, you will typically take tests for chlamydia/gonorrhea and HIV. 

STI Self-Pay Pricing List

(Minimum Charge $20)

Test	Price
Chlamydia/Gonorrhea (vaginal swab or urine)	$23.00
HIV	$5.98
Syphilis	$2.99
Hepatitis C	$15.00
Chlamydia/Gonorrhea Rectal (for those who engage in anal sex)	$23.00
Chlamydia/Gonorrhea Throat (for those who engage in oral sex)	$26.00
Blood draw fee	$5.08

Some students may feel particularly worried about a parent – or someone else on their insurance plan – finding out about a STI test. In this case, you might consider community resources for STI testing where you can pay out of pocket (without using health insurance). Options for low-cost or free STI testing close to campus in the Boston community include:

• Planned Parenthood
• Fenway Health

We asked a nurse at SHS some of the most common questions BU students have about STI testing, like: where to go, what to expect, how to talk to your sexual partners, and more. Here’s what they said.