Health care visits can be stressful. As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, you may have extra anxiety about health care—maybe you’re worried you’ll be discriminated against or misunderstood. At the Health Center, we’re committed to making sure you have the best possible experience.
As a new Health Center patient, you’ll be asked your name and pronouns. If you like, you can provide this information through your patient portal before you even come in for your first appointment. (Look for the Chosen Name and Pronouns Used form under Questionnaires.)
We understand that gender is a journey. If your name, pronouns, or gender markers change, you can return to this form to make updates. Or just ask a member of our staff to make changes to your record.
Please note that changes apply only to your medical record, not your university records.
For an appointment with a gender-affirming care provider who is especially knowledgeable about LGBTQ+ health issues, call 812-855-0082. If the nurse is not available, leave a message and you’ll get a call back as soon as possible.
We know that easy access to medical and counseling services is crucial for LGBTQ+ students during your transformative college years. And we understand that you have particular needs and preferences when it comes to health care. Schedule an appointment with a gender-affirming care provider for any of these services.
If you have a concern related to your sex organs, your provider can give you a sensitive exam. Chaperones are always available upon request. If you would prefer to have a provider who specializes in LGBTQ+ medicine, schedule an appointment as described on this page.
We offer quick, confidential STI testing and treatment in the Health Center. If you think you’ve been exposed, talk with your provider about getting tested. We recommend routine testing every three to six months for people with multiple partners.
Learn more about STI testingThe Health Center provides pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to HIV-negative patients who are at high risk of contracting the HIV virus. To discuss if you are a candidate for PrEP, schedule an appointment with our medical clinic.
Learn more about PrEPThe CDC recommends that everyone through age 26 be immunized for human papilloma virus, or HPV. HPV is an STI that can lead to certain types of cancer. Talk with your provider about getting an HPV immunization.
Learn more about immunizationsIf you’re interested in sexual health or learning more about sexuality, check out our wellness programs. They’re designed to help you learn more, be well, and have healthy sexual relationships. Free condoms and dental dams are available at Health and Wellness Education on the third floor of the Health Center.
Learn more about sexual wellnessDo you want to talk to someone about sexuality, gender identity, or other things going on in your life? Our counselors are always ready to help. We offer individual counseling, group counseling, workshops, support groups, and more.
Learn more about CAPSThe Health Center not only continues previously prescribed gender-affirming hormone treatments, but also can initiate them.
If you want your home provider to manage your hormone therapy but would like to have your injections given at the Health Center, you must have your provider complete and submit a Therapeutic Injection order sheet prior to scheduling your injection appointment with the immunization clinic.
If you’re already receiving gender-affirming hormones at another health care facility and would like to continue your therapy at the Health Center, make an appointment with our gender-affirming care provider as described on this page. You’ll need to provide your previous physician’s records before your appointment.
Your initial 45-minute appointment will involve a review of your gender journey and previous hormone treatments, a conversation about your desired changes from hormone therapy, and a discussion of your medical and social history. Depending on your previous medical records and care, your provider may draw blood for laboratory tests.
When you’re comfortable with your new provider, we strongly recommend that you have a full physical exam to ensure your long-term health. (We won’t withhold hormones from you if you decline an exam.)
If hormone therapy is new for you, you will need to have at least one appointment with a CAPS counselor or an outside counselor (or continue ongoing therapy with either) before you can begin hormone therapy at the Health Center. If you’re seeing a counselor outside of CAPS, they will need to write a letter supporting your choice to pursue gender-affirming hormone therapy.
To initiate hormone therapy, make an appointment with our gender-affirming care provider as described on this page. Your initial 45-minute appointment will involve a review of your gender journey and previous hormone treatments, a conversation about your desired changes from hormone therapy, and a discussion of your medical and social history. Your provider will draw blood for laboratory tests and, if you’re comfortable with it, give you a full physical exam. (We won’t withhold hormones from you if you decline an exam.) You’ll also be given an Informed Consent for Hormone Therapy form to review.
Two to three weeks after your initial appointment, you’ll have a 30-minute follow-up appointment to review your lab results and the informed consent form, sign your informed consent form, and receive your hormone therapy. If you use injectable hormone therapy, we will schedule an appointment with the immunization clinic so you can learn how to give injections or so you can receive your injection from an immunization clinic nurse.
When administering gender-affirming hormone therapy, we follow the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) Standards of Care for the Health of Transsexual, Transgender, and Gender Nonconforming People.
Learn about the WPATH standards of careAs part of our commitment to ensuring that everyone feels welcome and accepted at the Health Center, representatives from the medical clinic, CAPS, and Health and Wellness Education have come together to create the Gender Affirming Care Team. This team helps create a more inclusive environment and provides specialty care for more diverse and LGBTQ+ students. The team has led initiatives such as updating documentation to be more inclusive and providing gender sensitivity training for Health Center staff.
