The Student Health and Wellness Center (SHAW) is here for you during all phases of your journey at UW-Milwaukee. SHAW can provide assistance and care for students who are sexually active, or who are interested in learning more about reproductive health services. See below for a list of our care options on campus.
PrEP
PrEP, or Pre-exposure Prophylaxis, is a medicine that can reduce the risk of contracting HIV. PrEP can be prescribed for anyone, not just those with a high risk of exposure to HIV. SHAW offers consultations to determine your risk factors and see if PrEP is a good choice for you.
The process for starting and taking PrEP involves monitoring lab work throughout treatment to make sure you stay healthy and avoid severe side effects. Prescriptions cannot be filled at the SHAW Dispensary but will be sent to a pharmacy and the cost is based on insurance coverage.
To learn more about PrEP, including risk factors, visit the CDC’s Preventing HIW with PrEP webpage.
Birth Control Consultations
SHAW offers one-on-one consultations with a provider to determine what type of birth control works for you and your needs. Our dispensary offers over-the-counter birth control for sale in the form of the O-Pill. Options available for prescriptions at the SHAW Dispensary include the Depo shot and other common birth control pills. Birth control patches and the NuvaRing are available by prescription to an outside pharmacy. Students interested in IUDs or Nexplanon will be referred back to their primary care provider or Planned Parenthood for support.
There are many forms of birth control available, so it is important to talk with a provider about your lifestyle and medical history during a consultation to avoid certain risk factors. There are no set-up appointments at SHAW, and same-day prescriptions are available for students at UWM.
In addition, the SHAW Dispensary offers free individual condoms, or boxes for low cost. Plan B is also available for students during our normal business hours of Monday – Thursday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Friday 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
To learn more about the different types of birth control available, visit Planned Parenthood’s website.
STI Screenings & Treatment
The Student Health and Wellness Center is here for you to help you diagnose and treat common sexually transmitted infections. Our screenings are available for students with or without symptoms and risk factors. Our types of STI screenings include urine, throat, vaginal and rectal gonorrhea and chlamydia, as well as blood draw for HIV and Syphilis testing. All STI tests are sent to an outside lab for results.
Prescription antibiotic treatments are available at the SHAW Dispensary if you test positive. Students who test positive for HIV or Syphilis will be referred to Vivent Health for treatment and follow-up care.
All services at SHAW, including STI consultations and treatment are confidential. No record of your appointment appears on your academic or financial records, and our clinic is not affiliated with EPIC or other EHR systems (like MyChart).
For more information on STIs, visit the CDC’s website.