Medical FAQs

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

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

STIs are really common and can be prevented. Remember, you can always come to The SPOT
for condoms, dental dams, lube, and PrEP to prevent STIs.

Less stress about infections = more pleasure from sex!

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 STI again and will have to get the medication again.   

Return to The SPOT 30 days after you took the medication to get tested again.

When you start your last pack of pills, schedule an appointment with the nurse. Once a year, you will see the doctor to talk about 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.

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, penis or anus.   

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. 

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

A UTI (urinary tract infection) 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.

Sexually transmitted infection (STI) and sexually transmitted disease (STD) mean nearly the same thing.

Both are bacteria, viruses and parasites that pass through sex (oral, rectal and vaginal) or toys used during sex.  An STI becomes an STD when it causes symptoms, but all can be referred to as STIs.

PEP is post-exposure prophylaxis for HIV. This is a medication that is started within 72 hours of unprotected sex with a person of positive or unknown HIV status. It is taken daily for 28 days and is followed up with a repeat HIV test after completion of the medication. This medication can also be received at the emergency department if we are not available.

PrEP is pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV. This is a once a day medication taken to protect someone from getting HIV.

Click here for more info about our PrEP clinic.

• For Gonorrhea, you will get a shot of Ceftriaxone in the arm or buttocks
• For Chlamydia, you will have to take four pills of Azithromycin (all at same time) with a big meal or Doxycycline 100mg twice daily for 7 days
• 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.

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).

Plan B (the “morning-after pill”) 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 1:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Tuesday - Friday.

We highly encourage you to use some form of birth control to prevent having to use a Plan B because it is not a method of birth control. 

The Depo shot is a form of birth control. You need to get the shot within 11-13 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: 

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. 

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 have a bump or sore, or have a vagina and have symptoms (anything outside of your normal).

They can test for the following:

• Yeast 
• BV (Bacterial Vaginosis)
• Trichomoniasis