Sexual Health | Husky Health & Well-Being

Safer sex supplies are available!

Whenever Hall Health is open, you can drop by to pick up safer sex supplies. Please sanitize your hands before touching supplies.

Getting started

Free safer sex supplies

Current UW Seattle students can drop by the Health Promotion office (to your right as you enter Hall Health) to pick up safer sex supplies. We are open whenever Hall Health is open, including during the coronavirus outbreak. Please sanitize your hands before handling supplies.

Email us at hhpccweb@uw.edu if you are interested in obtaining safer sex supplies for an office, event, sorority or fraternity or other venue.

*Always check the expiration date on your safer sex supplies!

Emergency contraception

Emergency Contraception (EC) is available at the Hall Health Pharmacy to students of any age or gender. You can purchase it at any Seattle pharmacy. Students with Washington State health insurance (private insurance or Apple Health) can get EC over-the-counter at a contracted pharmacy without an out-of-pocket cost. For uninsured students or students who cannot use health insurance for confidentiality reasons, Planned Parenthood is a low-cost option for EC. The closest Planned Parenthood is located on 50th and Roosevelt in the University District.

Please chat with us if you are a UW student who needs help obtaining EC.

HPV vaccination

Hall Health offers HPV vaccination to UW Seattle students and established Hall Health patients. Please call us at 206.685.1011 to schedule.

Bring your insurance card and student ID and check-in on the first floor.

Vaccines that are recommended for you based on your age and assigned sex are fully covered by most US insurance plans when you visit an in-network provider. Learn more about health insurance and cost.

STI testing and treatment (including PrEP)

To schedule an appointment for STI testing, call us at 206.685.1011. Be sure to let us know when you call if are experiencing symptoms.

STI testing needs vary from person to person based on age, assigned sex and risk factors. Unfortunately, in most cases, it’s not possible for Hall Health staff to tell you in advance of an STI testing visit what the out-of-pocket cost will be. The cost will depend on your health insurance benefits and network, the complexity of the visit and which lab tests are included. You can learn more about your health insurance benefits here. See the FAQ below for more information.

Birth control methods

If you are a current UW Seattle student, you can talk with a Family Planning Counselor at no cost. Call us at 206.685.1011 to schedule a virtual, telephone or in-person visit. The Family Planning Counselor cannot order lab tests, perform exams or write prescriptions.
For prescription birth control, including to schedule a pre-IUD or pre-Nexplanon consultation, call us at 206.685.1011.

Support for survivors of sexual & relationship violence

If you have experienced or are experiencing any sort of unwanted sexual encounter, and would like to discuss support options and resources, you can speak to a confidential advocate from LiveWell (Brittany) or UWPD (Victoria). There is no cost to speak with an advocate. Brittany and Victoria can also can discuss resources and options if you are experiencing relationship violence or stalking. Please email them to set up an appointment.

LiveWell (students only) – Brittany Bowhall – lwadvoc@uw.edu
UWPD (students, staff & faculty) – Victoria Adams – vadams@uw.edu

Frequently asked questions

Have a concern? Need help figuring out your next step? You can call us at 206.221.2517 between 8 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, and between 9 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. on Tuesdays.

If the nurse is on the phone, please leave a message with your name and telephone number, as well as a brief description of your concern. You will receive a call back within two hours, unless the clinic is exceptionally busy. Find out more about Medical Advice.

The out-of-pocket cost of care depends on your insurance benefits and network. All US insurance plans are required to cover the full cost of any birth control method, as long as you visit an in-network provider. The cost of STI testing depends on whether or not you have symptoms, the tests you are seeking and your insurance benefits.

If you are a current UW Seattle student, you are eligible for one subsidized visit (face-to-face interaction) with a Hall Health provider (medical doctor or nurse practitioner) per quarter for a problem or concern. However, you are responsible for any ancillary services, like lab tests, imaging and medications. We will bill your health insurance unless told otherwise, in which case you will be charged for any services not paid for through your subsidized benefits as a UW student.

Learn more about health insurance.

Your health information cannot be shared without your express permission with anyone other than the providers of your medical care. There are two exceptions to this rule: billing health insurance for STI testing or birth control and reportable STIs.

If you have health insurance through a parent, guardian, or spouse, it is possible that the primary subscriber on the insurance could receive mail from your insurer that includes information about health care services you received, including STI testing and birth control. Paying out-of-pocket and not billing your insurance is the only way to be certain of confidentiality.

Some STIs are reportable by law. Positive chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis results must be reported to the local health department to make sure those affected are treated. If you do have a positive result on one of these tests, your information will still be protected, and you would only be contacted if you did not complete treatment. Positive HIV results are also reported to the local health department, but anonymous HIV testing is available in Seattle (though not at Hall Health Center) if this is a concern.

There are many other providers in the Seattle area that provide confidential birth control, STI and HIV testing. Some of these clinics have income-based financial assistance.. Planned Parenthood of the Great Northwest and Hawaiian Islands is one such provider, and has clinics throughout the greater Seattle area, including in the University District. Visit the Public Health-Seattle & King County website for a list of other STI and HIV testing providers.