Though your access to the student health center may be limited during the summer, there are still ways to access affordable care, especially in regard to your sexual health. It is important to practice safety even when care is less convenient, and one way you can do this is by being aware of your options. Below is a list of some locations in Columbia, Kansas City and St. Louis that provide testing and methods of protection.
####Kansas City####
KCMO Health Department’s Sexual Health Clinic: Located at 2400 Troost Avenue in Kansas City, this clinic offers rapid HIV tests as well as testing for chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis among other infections with results available within seven to ten business days. All testing is confidential, and no payment is required for both testing and treatment, according to its website. You can call 816-513-6379 to schedule an appointment, though walk-ins are also accepted if there is time available. The clinic is open Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 8- 11:30 a.m. and 1- 3:30 p.m, and Thursday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Planned Parenthood Midtown Health Center: Planned Parenthood is a great location for services regarding sexual health. They provide treatment, prevention and education services, and testing for many STIs. Though testing is not necessarily free, Planned Parenthood stresses its ability to provide affordable care on its website. It is open Monday, Thursday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Saturday 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. This Planned Parenthood location also takes walk-ins, including those for emergency contraception, and is located at 1001 Emanuel Cleaver II Boulevard in Kansas City. In addition, this Planned Parenthood offers nine different methods of birth control, including both male and female condoms. There are also Planned Parenthoods in Columbia and St. Louis.
####Columbia####
Spectrum Health Care: This Columbia health center offers free testing for HIV and STIs as well as STI prevention and education services. Spectrum began as a source to provide care to those dying of AIDS and its website illustrates this continuation of care by promising “to foster an environment of trust and inclusivity to all patients.” It is open Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1- 5 p.m and offers Spectrum After Dark walk-in clinic from 5:30- 8 p.m. every Monday, Tuesday and Friday. Spectrum is located at 1123 Wilkes Boulevard, Suite 100, in Columbia.
Columbia/Boone County Public Health Department: The city of Columbia offers testing for gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis and HIV. You can either set up an appointment by calling 573-874-7356 or by walk-in, though times for walk-ins vary and slots are limited. Students at MU and other local colleges can receive testing for $20 by showing either their student ID or proof of an in-county address, otherwise the cost of testing is $40. The Public Health Department is located at 1005 W Worley Street in Columbia.
####St. Louis####
St. Louis Effort for AIDS: This location offers rapid HIV testing, meaning results take about 15 minutes, as well as testing for other sexually transmitted infections. Free and confidential testing is available Monday through Thursday at varying times, and walk-ins are available on Monday and Wednesday, according to its website. St. Louis Effort for AIDS is located at 1027 S Vandeventer Ave, Unit 700, in St. Louis.
Family Care Health Centers: Though no specific prices are listed, Family Care Health Centers offers HIV and other STI testing and most insurance plans are accepted, according to its website. Those without insurance will pay on a sliding scale based on income and family size. This location is especially supportive because it makes an effort to help people who speak languages other than English, providing interpretation services for those who are Hispanic, Bosnian, Vietnamese and Somali. Contraception is also available at this location, which is located at 4352 Manchester Avenue in St. Louis. It is open Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
_Edited by Siena DeBolt | sdebolt@themaneater.com_