LGBT Health

General Health 

Gay and Bisexual Men

Lesbian and Bisexual Women

Transgender Folks

Mental Health

LGBT students have many of the same mental health questions and concerns as non-LGBT students. However, there is often the desire for LGBT students to ensure they are able to meet with a counselor who is LGBT-friendly and knowledgeable about LGBT life. All the counselors at Counseling and Psychological Services (CPS) are trained on LGBT topics and are supportive of LGBT students.

There are some health concerns that are specific to the LGBT community. For instance, students who are coming out and/or struggling with their identity may have specific mental heath concerns, such as substance abuse, depression, and suicide. Also, experiencing homophobia, discrimination, and victimization can increase stress and have a negative effect on one’s mental health.

The CPS staff is able to meet with you about these and other general LGBT topics, such as coming out, identity exploration, dating and relationship topics, and family concerns. They are also able to refer students to LGBT-friendly clinicians in the surrounding area. CPS also sometimes facilitates a support group for LGBTQ students (if it is not being offered this semester, email the groups coordinator).

Depression

Body Image

Substance overuse/abuse

Sexual Health

If You Have It, Check It

  • Chest/Breast Self Exams should be performed every month.
  • Clinical Chest/Breast Exams are recommended once a year and are usually performed by a medical provider.
  • Mammograms are recommended once a year for people with breast tissue who are over age 40 or as determined by a health care provider.
  • Testicular Self Exam (TSE) should be performed once a month. Most cases of testicular cancer occur in those between the ages of 18-30.
  • Pelvic Exam and Pap Tests are recommended every year for people with a vagina, uterus, cervix and/or ovaries who are sexually active or over the age of 18. Schedule an exam if you have:
    • Unusual vaginal or pelvic pain
    • Abnormal vaginal bleeding or discharge
    • Pain, swelling, or tenderness of the vulva or vagina
    • Sores, lumps, or itching of the vulva or vagina
  • Anal Pap Tests can help detect the presence of certain sexually transmitted infections and test for abnormal cells on the wall of the rectum that may lead to anal cancer.
  • Prostate Exams are particularly important for those over the age of 50.

Talk with your health care provider about which of these exams is appropriate for you regardless of gender identity or expression.

Safer Sex

All people should take precautions and practice safer sex. Below are a few items you might want to have in your tool box and suggestions for engaging in safer sex.

External condoms — The most common method of safer sex is condom use. They are available at UHS, the Gender + Sexuality Resource Center (GSRC), from Peer Health Advisers (PHA), or Residential College Advisers, and readily available for purchase at grocery stores and pharmacies. Condoms, if used correctly, are one of the most effective methods of protection. Condoms can be used on sex toys to prevent the transmission of STIs and other infections from one partner to another. Latex condoms are the most effective for STI prevention. For people with latex allergies, there are also polyurethane condoms. Flavored condoms should be used for oral sex to reduce the risk of STIs and HIV.

The FC2 or "internal condom", also known as the female condom, is available by prescription or online, or through UHS and PHAs. It is made of polyurethane and can be inserted several hours before use. For use in the vaginal canal, there is a ring that covers the cervix and the larger ring remains outside of the body. For anal sex, the inner ring should be removed and care should be taken to ensure the outer ring remains outside the body. Also, this condom should be used alone. Doubling up on condoms causes friction and breakage. 

Dental Dams — UHS, PHAs, and the GSRC have dental dams available for students. They are barriers that protect against fluid transmission for both vaginal oral sex and anal oral sex. Some people choose to use other methods, such as Saran Wrap. However, the most effective method is to use latex or polyurethane dams intended for safer sex.

Latex Gloves and Finger Cots — Gloves and cots are to be used on fingers or hands. If you have cuts on your hands or open sores, such as a hang nail, these areas are susceptible to infection transmission. Using gloves and finger cots are excellent ways to protect the skin from transmission. Both gloves and cots are able to be purchased at pharmacies and some grocery stores. The GSRC and Peer Health Advisers also have some available for students.

Communication — It is very important to communicate with your partner about safer sex. Ask if they have had unprotected sex before and if they have been tested for STIs and HIV. Negotiate the use of safer sex protection beforehand. Communication before and during any type of sexual activity is key. Asking pointed questions is also important. Instead of asking, “Are you clean?” ask, “Do you have any infections or HIV?”

Get Tested — If you are sexually active, you should use safer sex methods, and you should also get tested regularly. People often get HIV tests (see more information below). This is very important. However, many other types of STIs occur more often, so you should ask to be tested for all STIs, especially syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia. Be honest with your health care provider about the type of sexual activity in which you engage, as different STIs are more prevalent with different types of partners and activities. To be sure that you are tested appropriately, honesty is paramount.

Vaginal and Anal Pap Smears — Having an annual vaginal pap smear is essential. In addition, you should have an anal pap if you have engaged in unprotected anal sex or consistently engage in anal sex. You can contract HPV/anal warts that can lead to colorectal cancer. Testing is easy and pain free.

Vaccinations — There are vaccinations for Hepatitis A and B and HPV. These vaccinations are preventive methods that may protect you down the road.

Confidential vs. Anonymous HIV Testing

There are two types of HIV tests that one can take, confidential or anonymous tests. With confidential tests, the patient’s name is recorded with the test results. These results are kept secret from everyone except the medical personnel and perhaps the state health department. If the patient tests positive, according to New Jersey Law, his or her name must be reported to the state. Also, the results can be revealed to the individual’s health insurance provider if a claim is made. Anonymous tests, on the other hand, are tests in which no name is associated with the test. Only the individual getting tested can reveal the results to anyone.

In New Jersey, the law allows for both confidential and anonymous testing. University Health Services offers confidential counseling. There are other places where one can receive confidential counseling, as well as anonymous testing below. However, the individual being tested should always ask the site which forms of testing they offer (confidential vs. anonymous), in case an agency has changed its policy and who may have access the results.

For off-campus, local HIV testing, contact:

HiTops (confidential) 
21 Wiggins Street 
Princeton , New Jersey 08544 
phone: 609-683-5155 
fax: 609-683-9507 
email: [email protected]

Henry J. Austin Health Center (free & confidential) 
321 North Warren St. 
Trenton , New Jersey 
phone: 609-278-5945

Robert Wood Johnson University Medical Group (free & anonymous) 
Ambulatory Care Building- HIV Counseling and Testing Program
Suite One, Little Albany Street
New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901 
phone: 732-235-7114

Health Federation of Philadelphia
Women’s Anonymous Test Site (confidential and anonymous) 
1211 Chestnut St., Ste. 701 
Philadelphia , Pennsylvania 19107 
phone: 215-246-5210 (main)

On- and Off-Campus Resources

On Campus

Gender + Sexuality Resource Center

Off-Campus

Callen Lorde

Gay Men’s Health Crisis

Mazzoni Center

Pride-Institute.com

Gay & Lesbian Medical Association

LGBT Health Channel

The National Coalition of LGBT Health

Whitman-Walker