Supporting Positive Opportunities with Teens

Medical Care

 

 

PrEP Clinic

We offer PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis) for those interested in the prevention of HIV through the use of a daily medication.  If you do not have health insurance, we have resources to assist with medical costs associated with this medication and the follow up medical visits.  If you have questions about whether or not PrEP would be right for you OR you would like to complete an intake for getting PrEP, you can contact: 

Phone: (314) 535-0413 x220

Email:  thespot@wustl.edu

Facebook:  Send us a private message on our SPOTSTL page


Frequently Asked Questions 

(Listed services and schedule not current due to COVID)

Medical Services

What medical services do you offer?

  • HIV and STD testing
  • STD Treatment (medication if you or your partner has a STD)
  • Pregnancy testing
  • Birth control
  • Plan B ("morning-after pill")
  • Symptom assessment - A doctor can help you determine how to treat symptoms like bleeding, pain with urination, discharge or itching in your genital area, bumps or rashes


When are these services available?
Medical services are available on a walk in basis (see EXPRESS & DOCTOR SERVICE sections above). You can find out more information on what services are available when by:

  • Facebook - The SPOT @ STL - This is updated every weekday. You can message us if you have questions!
  • Phone - (314) 535-0413 - You can call us. The best time to call is before 1 pm.
  • Front Door - We post a sign on our front door in the morning that lists what services are available. We update it in the afternoon when we are no longer able to provide some services.

How Walk-Ins Work

How does it work?

When we open at 1pm, the nurse will check in with everyone who requested medical or testing.  If you just need HIV/STD/Pregnancy testing and don't have symptoms, you will likely be sent upstairs for testing with Project ARK.

If you need STD treatment or birth control refills , she will keep you downstairs and will do her best to get you in and out as soon as she can.

If you need to see the doctor for symptoms or birth control (new, changing methods or not on time for refill), your wait will be longer since we only have 1 doctor and 2 exam rooms.  Plan to wait 1-3 hours and we will see you in the order of arrival.

How do I know if I’ll be seen when I come in?
The nurse will speak with you when you get here to see what you need.  If she is not able to get you seen that day, she will tell you when you can be seen or offer other clinics where you can go. 

We encourage you to be here between 12:30-12:45 pm to be one of the first people in line.  It's first come, first served! 

Why is it taking so long to be seen? 
The SPOT is small but mighty! We have two exam rooms, one doctor, and one nurse. 
  
We want to provide you with quality care without rushing you. We want to answer your questions and give you the best information. Some visits take more time than others. We try to be speedy as much as we can.  
  
Please be patient with us, and use the Drop-In Center if you’re 13-24 years old! You can hang out, make food, use the computers, watch TV, and do activities.  
  
If you need to leave, please let the front desk know.

Symptoms, STDs, and Medications

What are STDs? 

STDs are sexually transmitted diseases, which means you can get them through having unprotected sex (vaginal, anal, or oral sex). Many STDs can be treated and managed, but you need to get tested to see if you have an STD. Some STDs have symptoms that are really obvious, and some do not. 

  

STDs are really common, and can be prevented. Remember, you can always come to the SPOT for safe sex supplies. We don’t judge, and we want you to be safe and healthy.

  

How often should I be tested for STDs?

  • With any new sex partners
  • Every six months to one year
  • If having symptoms (see “Do I have a symptom?”)
  • Or one month after being treated for an STD 

 

What is a symptom? 

A symptom is something that is “not your normal” like unusual bleeding, burning when you pee, discharge from your vagina or penis, bumps or sores around your vagina or penis.   


We ask if you have a symptom because we want to make sure you can see a doctor who can help treat the symptom. Our nurse generally cannot diagnose or treat a symptom.   

  

Why do I need to see the doctor if I have symptoms?

There are some tests that have to be performed by a doctor.  The doctor will look at the test sample under the microscope to diagnose problems so we can treat you. You must see the doctor if you are a female and having symptoms.  This is anything outside of your normal.  They can test for the following:

  • Yeast 
  • BV (Bacterial Vaginosis)
  • Trichomoniasis 

  

What is the difference between a STD (sexually transmitted disease) and a UTI (urinary tract infection)? 

You get a STD from having unprotected sex (oral, vaginal or anal) from someone who has a STD.  You might have symptoms like discharge from your penis or vagina or burning when you pee, but many with a STD do not have any symptoms at all.  Testing is the only way to know for sure if you have an STD. 

  

A UTI is caused by bacteria getting into the urethra, which is where your urine comes out.  You might feel like you have to pee but can't, smell a different odor in your urine, or feel a burning sensation when you try to urinate.  

  

Both can be treated with antibiotics after you take a test to see which one you have.  

  

What medication is given for STDs (sexually transmitted diseases)?

  • For Gonorrhea, you will get a shot of Ceftriaxone in the arm or butt, and you will also have to take four pills of Azithromycin (all at same time) with a big meal.
  • For Chlamydia, you will have to take four pills of Azithromycin (all at same time) with a big meal.
  • For Syphilis, you will get one or three shots of Bicillin.  If you need three shots, these will be given weekly on the same day each week.
  • For Trichomoniasis, you will get pills of Metronizadole.


If you have allergies or cannot tolerate any of these medications, let us know and we can provide a different medication.   

  

When can I have sex after getting treated? 

You MUST wait seven days before having sex after treatment or after your last partner was treated.  This means NO SEX. Not even with a condom (if it breaks, you will be re-exposed). 

  

When can I take Plan B (“the morning-after pill” or “emergency contraception”)? 

Plan B can prevent unintended pregnancy. It can be taken up to five days after unprotected sex. You can get this for free at The SPOT without an appointment between 1:00pm-4:45pm Monday-Friday.  

  

You are only allowed one Plan B pill every six months.  We highly encourage you to use some form of birth control to prevent having to use a Plan B, because it’s not a method of birth control. 

  

When do I have to come back for my Depo shot and what happens if I am late? 

The Depo shot is a form of birth control. You need to get the shot within two weeks of the last time you got the shot. The nurse should give you a card with the dates to come back. You can also look up your last shot date on this page to find out the two-week refill window: 

https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/view/32518726/depo-provera-perpetual-calendar 

  

If you are outside of the two-week window for getting the shot again, you will have to give a urine sample for a pregnancy test so we make sure you are not pregnant before we give you another Depo shot.  If the test is negative, then we can give you your next shot.   

  

You can get pregnant between when you are due to get your next shot and when you actually get it so plan ahead! Make sure to come in on time to prevent pregnancy. 

  

What happens when I come for my birth control pill refill? 

You can come in anytime medical is open. You do not need an appointment.  We will try to get you in and out as soon as possible, but we also need to make sure everything is going okay with your birth control.  

  

When you come in, you will get your blood pressure checked by the nurse to make sure your blood pressure is not high, which can be a problem if you are taking birth control pills.  If your blood pressure is okay, then we will give you your refill.  If your blood pressure is high, then we will have you meet with the doctor or have you come back when a doctor is available before we give more pills.    

  

If you are late receiving your refills, we will do a pregnancy test. If your pregnancy test is negative, we can give you the refill of pills.  

  

What do I have to do when I or my partner has an STD? 

Both of you should come to The SPOT to get tested and get medication.  Then, both of you have to wait seven days after taking the medication to have any type of sex (oral, vaginal or anal).  If you don’t wait this long, then you could get the STD again and will have to get the medication again.   

  

You can come back 30 days after you took the medication to get tested again to see that the STD has been cured.