Services on Campus

What is an HIV test?

Most HIV tests use blood to determine if you are infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. There are some tests that use oral fluids from the mouth or urine. If you test positive, it means you are infected with HIV and can infect others even though you may not look or feel sick. Counseling is provided to discuss all your treatment options.

Should I get tested?

You may want to consider getting tested if you have:

• had unprotected anal, vaginal, or oral sex with someone and you are unsure if they have HIV
• shared needles or syringes for injecting drugs, body piercing, or tattooing

How do I get an HIV Test?

An appointment can be made at the Illinois State University Student Health Service by calling 438-2778 (APPT) or at our secure web site. Visit HIV and STI Testing for further information.

The McLean County Health Department also offers HIV testing. Call the Health Department at (309) 888-5435 to ask about HIV antibody testing.

How soon after exposure to HIV can a test confirm if I am infected?

No HIV test can detect HIV immediately after infection. If you think you’ve been exposed to HIV, talk to your health care provider as soon as possible.

The time between when a person gets HIV and when a test can accurately detect it is called the window period. The window period varies from person to person and also depends upon the type of HIV test.

Ask your health care provider about the window period for the test you’re taking. If you’re using a home test, you can get that information from the materials included in the test’s package. If you get an HIV test within 3 months after a potential HIV exposure and the result is negative, get tested again in 3 more months to be sure.

What can I do to protect myself from HIV?

• Avoid sharing needles and syringes.
• If you drink alcohol, having four or fewer drinks will reduce your risk for impairment and your risk for engaging in high risk activities (i.e. unprotected sex), that could lead to HIV infection.
• Have sex with only one person who you KNOW is not infected (for example, get tested together).
• By not having anal, vaginal, or oral sex. There are other activities you can do for fun and intimacy that won't put you or your partner at risk, such as: massage, hugging, kissing, masturbation, fantasy, etc.
• Using latex condoms, female/internal condoms or dental dams every time during sex, including oral/anal or oral/vaginal, can also greatly reduce your risk for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STDs/STIs).
• Condoms are available in the Health Promotion and Wellness office, Suite 187 McCormick Hall, the Student Health Service Pharmacy (Student Service Building Room 293) and at the G Spot

Pregnancy Information

Worrying about whether you might be pregnant can be a stressful situation. Fortunately, the Student Health Service (SHS) has a number of services available to help ease your mind.

What if your method of contraception fails?

No method of birth control is perfect, but correct and consistent use of your method makes it less likely to fail. If your method fails, or you have unprotected intercourse, you can obtain emergency contraception from the SHS Pharmacy or any local pharmacy. This is a method of contraception which can be used after unprotected intercourse to reduce your chance of pregnancy.

Pregnancy Testing

Home pregnancy tests are available at the Student Health Services Pharmacy or most drug and grocery stores. If you decide you want to come in to the clinic for a pregnancy test, call the SHS Appointment Line at (309) 438-2778 to schedule or make an appointment online. You may also call the SHS Nurse Consult at (309) 438-7676 to answer any questions.

If you are pregnant, it may be one of the most emotional moments in your life. It is a time when you may need comfort and support as well as sound information to help you sort through feelings and to make decisions that are right for you. If your pregnancy test comes back positive, Illinois State's Student Counseling Services (309) 438-3655 has staff to support you. Appointments are confidential and free of charge. The Student Health Services Nurse Consult at (309) 438-RNRN (7676) is also available to answer questions and concerns regarding your pregnancy.

Making a Decision

For some, the most difficult part of being pregnant is not the conflicting emotions but making a decision regarding the pregnancy. There are several choices available and you have the right to choose the alternative that is best. Carrying the pregnancy to term allows you two options: raising the child yourself, or adoption. Terminating the pregnancy is a third option. These options may not be equally acceptable to any one individual; however, it’s important to realize that a choice does exist. Carefully consider the choices so you can comfortably reach a decision. If you decide to continue the pregnancy, prenatal care is strongly recommended. In addition, you may want to contact the McLean County Health Department at (309) 888-5450 or a private health care provider to make an appointment for prenatal education.

Visit the Student Health Insurance Office to find out how your insurance may help cover costs associated.

If you do not have insurance you may also seek care at Planned Parenthood Health Center in Bloomington.

If you want to be tested and/or treated for a sexually transmitted disease/infection, Illinois State University students can visit Student Health Services STI Testing or call (309) 438-2778 to make an appointment. Testing and treatment is also available at the McLean County Health Department by calling (309) 888-5435.

Planned Parenthood Health Center in Bloomington provides STI Testing also.

What can I do to protect myself ?

• Wait to have sex until you and your partner are both ready and can discuss it openly and honestly.
  About 25% of Illinois State University students have not had sex in the last year.*
• Have sex with only one uninfected partner who only has sex with you. About 68% of Illinois State University students had sex with only one partner or with no one in the last year.*
• Talk to your partner about previous sexual partners.
• Use a dental dam (latex square) for oral/vaginal or oral/anal sex to prevent the spread of STIs from the vagina or anus to the mouth, and vice versa.
• Use External latex condoms or the Internal condom every time during anal, vaginal, or oral intercourse. It's not 100%, but condoms greatly reduce the risk for STIs. The pill and other types of contraception do NOT protect against STIs.
• If you or your partner are allergic to latex, you can use the Lifestyles Natural Latex Free condom or the FC2 Internal condom. See video below about the FC2 Female condom: http://www.totalaccessgroup.com/InternalCondom.html
• Condoms, dental dams, water-based and silicone-based lubricants are also available at the G Spot and Health Promotion and Wellness, Suite 187 McCormick Hall and condoms are available at the Student Health Services Pharmacy (located in the Student Services Building across from the Bone Student Center). About 70% of Illinois State students use condoms during vaginal intercourse.*

* American College Health Association-National College Health Assessment conducted at Illinois State University in Spring 2019, n=559

Information on Specific STI's

Student Health Services provides appointments for routine gynecological health care, contraception, pregnancy, and educational information regarding women's health concerns.

Services include annual exams and pap smears, breast exams, contraceptive counseling and prescriptions, testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections, pregnancy testing and counseling, and evaluation and treatment of menstrual irregularities. SHS also provides colposcopy exams for follow-up of abnormal pap smears.

The Sexual Health Clinic is an appointment-only clinic. The clinic staff includes:

• Board-Certified Physicians
• Advanced Practice Nurses
• Physician Assistants
• Registered Nurses
• Licensed Practical Nurses

Planned Parenthood Health Center in Bloomington provides women’s healthcare, contraception services, STI Testing, Emergency Contraception, pregnancy testing and services, LGBTQ Services, men’s services, and sexual health education.