Cowell Student Health Center

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Sexual Health

Testing options | Order your own tests | Types of testing & cost | What & when to test | Receiving results | Support from SHOP | PrEP and PEP for HIV | Prevention | STI prevention (DoxyPEP) | Resources

Sexual Health & Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) Testing 

UC Santa Cruz offers confidential and convenient STI testing through self-ordered lab tests, or provider visits, with 24/7 access to take-home kits via a healthcare kiosk. Most services are free with UC SHIP, and support like PrEP, PEP, and counseling is also available.

Testing Options

There are several ways to order Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) test.

Order your own tests.
Use Health e-Messenger to schedule a time to go to the lab or drop in to pick up a self-testing kit.

See a medical provider.
If you prefer to be seen by a medical provider, call (831) 459-2500 for an appointment or visit our Same Day Care department.

Get help.
If you’re not sure what tests to order, talk to:

24/7 STI kit access.
You can access STI kits through the Healthcare Kiosk, located in front of the Cowell Student Health Center. The vending machine has many personal hygiene items as well.

Order your STI tests

Anyone who is sexually active should think about testing for sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Make it part of your regular health care and test often. Self-ordered testing is a convenient and discreet way of screening for some of the most common sexually transmitted infections.

How to order your own tests:

  • If you are having blood drawn, schedule an appointment with the lab.
  • Fill out the STI Questionnaire. This allows the lab to process your results. To fill out the questionnaire, go to your Health e-Messenger → Messages → New Message → Self-Ordered STI Testing. Complete the questionnaire and submit!
  • Grab a take-home kit from the Health Center laboratory lobby and follow the enclosed instructions.

STI test types and cost

Below is a list of the different types of STI testing that can be ordered and the cost with or without UC SHIP. For students with UC SHIP, self-ordered routine STI testing has no out-of-pocket cost and can be done as often as you like. For students with CruzCare or who have waived UC SHIP, there will be a fee for each test. Fees are posted to your student account. Your total cost will depend on which tests are requested.

There is no additional charge for HIV blood testing. HIV Testing is covered for all students under Measure D. 

UC SHIP

In-house or Reference Labs
  • Gonorrhea & Chlamydia Urine Test = $0
  • Gonorrhea & Chlamydia Throat Swab = $0
  • Gonorrhea & Chlamydia Rectal Swab = $0
  • Gonorrhea & Chlamydia Vaginal Swab = $0
In-house or Reference Blood Tests
  • *HIV Blood Test = $0 (Paid for by Measure D)
  • Syphilis/RPR Blood Test = $0
  • Hepatitis C = $0
  • Laboratory Processing Fee = $0

Cost with private insurance (not covered by CruzCare)

Reference Labs
  • Gonorrhea & Chlamydia Urine Test = $29
  • Gonorrhea & Chlamydia Throat Swab = $29
  • Gonorrhea & Chlamydia Rectal Swab = $29
  • Gonorrhea & Chlamydia Vaginal Swab = $29
Blood Tests (reference and in-house labs)
  • HIV Blood Test = $0 (Paid for by Measure D)
  • Syphilis/RPR Blood Test = $4
  • Hepatitis C = $6.33
  • Laboratory Processing Fee = $31 (fee is charged once per day)
In-house Labs
  • Gonorrhea & Chlamydia Urine Test = $50
  • Gonorrhea & Chlamydia Throat Swab = $50
  • Gonorrhea & Chlamydia Rectal Swab = $50
  • Gonorrhea & Chlamydia Vaginal Swab = $50

Herpes Blood Testing

Screening for herpes is not recommended. If you have symptoms of a herpes infection, please contact a nurse during regular business hours.

Prices are subject to change without notice. We do our best to keep this page updated and maintain transparency in our pricing. Most private insurances will cover part or all of the costs for routine STI testing off campus. If you need support around STI testing and off-campus insurance, contact the Insurance department at (831) 502-8440.

Test the right body parts

  • A urine gonorrhea and chlamydia test will only detect infections in the vagina or penis. It will not pick up a rectal or oral infection.
  • You will swab your own body part. Gonorrhea and chlamydia testing can be done with a urine test, a vaginal swab, throat swab, or rectal swab. You do not need to do both a urine and a vaginal swab, but a vaginal swab is more accurate.
  • Gonorrhea can be transferred with oral sex, so you may want to consider testing for oral gonorrhea, even if you have no symptoms. If you have had receptive anal sex, you may need to do a rectal swab.

Test at the right time

Get tested regularly, and keep in mind that STIs take time to become detectable. Infections that cause sexually transmitted infections have different incubation periods—or timeframes between when they are passed on and when symptoms appear. It is also possible to never have any symptoms at all. Screening Recommendations and Guidelines.

Learn about the incubation period of common STIs. This article will help you understand how long it usually takes for symptoms of an STI/STD-causing infection to show up after exposure.
For more information about when to test, watch When is the Right Time to Get Tested for STIs?

Receiving results

Your test results will be sent electronically via secure messaging. Students will receive an email, which will direct them to Health e-Messenger. If a test is positive, a medical professional will contact you within 1 business day through Health e-Messenger or by telephone.

To view test results on our secure Health e-Messenger:

  • Click Labs
  • Log in to Health e-Messenger with your CruzID and Gold password
  • Go to the Visits/Allergies/Medication/Labs tab

Support from SHOP

Any UCSC student can meet with a SHOP Health Educator to talk about an STI/HIV risk reduction plan. Schedule a one-on-one check-in. SHOP outreach services include:

  • Lube, dental dams, and gloves
  • Condoms
  • Assistance with contraception education and appointments
  • Reproductive health information and resources

PrEP and PEP for HIV Prevention

PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis) is a combination of two HIV medicines (tenofovir and emtricitabine). PrEP helps to prevent an HIV-negative person from getting HIV from a sexual or injection-drug-using partner who’s HIV-positive. 

PrEP is an FDA-approved, CDC-recommended daily prevention pill for HIV-negative people who are vulnerable to getting HIV. Taken daily, PrEP is up to 99% effective at preventing HIV. (With typical use, effectiveness is 92–95%—this is when pills are being missed.)

PrEP does not protect from other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). If you or your provider think PrEP would be a good option for you, here is a guide to gather more information (pdf).

You might consider PrEP for HIV prevention if:

  • You don’t always use condoms when you have anal or vaginal sex.
  • You have been diagnosed with an STI in the last 6 months.
  • You are unsure of the HIV status of your partners.
  • You are sexually active with someone who is HIV+ who may or may not be on treatment.
  • You inject drugs or are sexually active with someone who injects drugs.
  • You are HIV-negative and interested in PrEP!

To learn more, view this PrEP information video.

What Is PEP? (Post-Exposure Prophylaxis)

PEP means taking medicine to prevent HIV after a possible exposure. PEP should be used only in emergency situations and must be started within 72 hours after a recent possible exposure to HIV. To learn more about when you may want to speak to a medical provider about PEP, view What Is PEP?

How to be prescribed PrEP or PEP

If you have the student health insurance plan (UC SHIP), you can call (831) 459-2500 to schedule an appointment at the UCSC Student Health Center. If you don’t have UC SHIP, please contact your primary care provider through your private insurance plan for an appointment. View this chart to learn about the differences between PrEP and PEP.

STI Prevention with DoxyPEP

Doxycycline Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (DoxyPEP) means taking the antibiotic doxycycline after sex to prevent getting a sexually transmitted infection (STI). DoxyPEP can prevent STIs such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis.

When Should I Take DoxyPEP?

Two 100 mg doses of doxycycline should ideally be taken within 24 hours, but no later than 72 hours after condomless sex. For more information, read DoxyPEP for STI Prevention (pdf).

Sexual health resources

The Student Health Center offers a range of gynecological health services to students. View additional off-campus resources:

Last modified: Sep 22, 2025