Gynecology Services

Gyn Phone: (434) 924-2773
Fax: (434) 243-6689

We provide routine annual gynecological examinations (including breast and pelvic exams, Pap tests, and screening for sexually transmitted infections [STI’s]), contraception counseling and method (including emergency contraception), treatment of gynecologic disorders and sexually transmitted infections, and pregnancy testing and counseling.

Clinic visits are scheduled by appointment.

There is no fee for seeing a health care provider for examinations or counseling. There are fees for the lab tests (Pap test, gonorrhea, chlamydia) usually associated with an annual exam. There are additional charges if other lab tests are needed. There are charges for all prescriptions and medications administered in the Clinic. If there are charges associated with your visit, you will be given a walk-out statement so that you can file for reimbursement for covered services from your insurance company. Information about Payment for Certain Gyn Lab Tests

Clinic Hours
We are open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday during fall and spring semesters. Students with urgent problems can been seen on Saturday mornings from 8:30 to 12 during fall and spring semesters. Call 924-2773 to schedule appointments. (Hours may vary during summer and breaks.)

Services During the Summer
Students enrolled for the summer session may use the Gyn Clinic during the summer. Students who were full-time during the regular school year but who are not enrolled in summer session can pay the summer Student Health fee to use the Gyn Clinic.

Staff
A board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist is the clinic director and consulting physician. Health care is also provided by nurse practitioners, resident physicians, and senior medical students under staff supervision. Our triage nurse, nursing assistant, receptionist, and gynecology counselor complete the staff.

Scheduling Appointments with Gynecology
Appointments for urgent care or problem visits can usually be made within 1 to 2 days. Please call before coming to the clinic.

Call 4 to 6 weeks in advance to schedule an annual exam appointment. We have limited appointments available for annual exams and are not able to accommodate all requests. 

Physicians and nurse practitioners in the Charlottesville community also provide gynecology services.  Aetna Student Health Insurance is accepted by many of these providers.  To find a health care provider at the University of Virginia Health Sciences Center go to www.healthsystem.virginia.edu and click on ‘find a doctor’.  For other providers, go to http://provider.marthajefferson.org/physician/

Planned Parenthood of the Blue Ridge (PPBR) at 2964 Hydraulic Road, Charlottesville, also provides annual exams. PPBR offers evening and Saturday appointments. You can request an appointment online at www.plannedparenthood.org or by phone at 434-296-1000.

For routine (non-urgent) appointments, you may request a particular health care provider or type of health care provider (e.g., a specific clinician you have seen before, male, female, NP, or MD). The permanent staff of the clinic are all females, but as a training facility for the Medical School and University Hospital, we train both male and female students and resident physicians. If you have a specific request, there may be a longer wait before an appointment becomes available. When calling to schedule your appointment please make your preference known to the receptionist.

For First Gynecologic Examinations
Two appointments should be requested when scheduling a first-ever gynecologic exam. Each woman is encouraged to make an appointment with a Peer Health Educator (PHE) for an educational session prior to the exam if this will be her first exam. Please let the receptionist know that this is your first gyn exam so that an appointment can be scheduled with the PHE. Appointments with the PHE can be scheduled within 1 to 2 weeks (924-2773). Partners are strongly encouraged to attend this session.
Your appointment for the exam can be scheduled any time after your PHE appointment. Please go to the Forms link on this page and complete the Initial Gyn History Form prior to your appointment. Print out this form and bring it with you to your appointment. Your health care provider will review this form with you at that time. More information on the First Gyn Exam.

Routine Annual Exam With or Without Prescription Renewal
Please call 4 to 6 weeks in advance to schedule this appointment
(See Scheduling Appointments). If you have never been seen in the Student Health Gynecology clinic go to https://www.healthyhoos.virginia.edu and set up an account. (Yes, the https is important as this is a secure website.) Complete and submit the Initial GYN Clinic Patient Questionaire on Healthy Hoos. Your provider will review your health history at the visit. If you do not have access to a computer before your first appointment, please arrive 10-15 minutes before your appointment to complete the Initial GYN Clinic Patient Questionaire.

If your prescription for birth control pills will run out before the scheduled visit, please let the receptionist know so that you can speak with the triage nurse and arrange to pick up a prescription for one (1) pack of pills to take you through to the appointment visit.

Peer Health Education Sessions
Contraception counseling sessions are recommended for women who are selecting their first method of birth control or who are uncertain about their choice of method. Education sessions are also recommended for those who have selected birth control pills as their method for the first time. Partners are strongly encouraged to attend these sessions. Appointments can usually be scheduled within 1-2 weeks.

For Initial Use of or To Restart Birth Control Pills, Shots, Patches, or Rings
A complete gynecologic history and education session is required prior to starting all hormonal methods of birth control: oral contraceptives (the Pill), Depo-Provera (the Shot), Evra (the Patch) or NuvaRing (the Ring). A pelvic and breast exam is often, but not always, also required. If the exam is not performed prior to starting a hormonal method, it will be required within three months or before the prescription can be renewed. If you have had a complete exam at another facility (e.g., doctor or nurse practitioner at home, Planned Parenthood, public health clinic) in the last 6 months, you may obtain copies of these records and bring them or have them faxed to the Student Health Gyn Clinic as verification. That exam should include a pelvic and breast exam and STI test results if performed. Original prescriptions for hormonal methods from outside care providers may be filled at the Student Health Pharmacy.

Please read the recent FDA regulations (November 10, 2005) at: In the News: Ortho Evra - "The Patch"

For Initial Use of a Diaphragm
Call 2-3 weeks in advance to schedule this appointment. Two appointments will be needed to complete this process. The first appointment is with a health care provider who will perform the actual diaphragm fitting. The second appointment is made one week after the fitting for a recheck of the fit and to obtain the prescription for the diaphragm. Diaphragm prescriptions may be filled at the Student Health Pharmacy.

Renewal of Diaphragm Prescriptions or Recheck of Fit
Please call 2-3 weeks in advance for an appointment.

Appointments for Gynecologic Problems and STI Screening or Counseling
Please call for an appointment. Patients with urgent problems will be seen as soon as possible, but please call in advance to speak with the triage nurse. That way we can determine how best to meet your needs. If you are uncomfortable or very worried, we always try to arrange for you to be seen the same day you call, but that is not always possible. For less urgent problems, there may be a several day wait.

Do I need a Pap test and screening for sexually transmitted diseases?
Guidelines or recommendations for who needs a Pap test have changed in recent years. Based on your sexual history and age, screening tests including a Pap test may be recommended at your visit. A Pap test is recommended for all women within 3 years after first sexual intercourse or by age 21, which ever comes first. To learn more about these recommendations go to:www.ashastd.org (American Social Health Association) and www.asccp.org  (American Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology).

During a pelvic exam, the provider may take a sample of cells from the cervix; these cells will be evaluated for any unusual changes (this is called a Pap test).  An abnormal Pap test may be caused by exposure to a very common sexually transmitted virus called Human Pappillomavirus (HPV).  Samples may also be collected to screen for Chlamydia, gonorrhea and trichomonas.

There is a charge for Pap test and other STD screening tests.
Information about Payment for Certain Gyn Lab Tests

HIV testing requires making two appointments. The Gyn Counselor is available for these appointments. The first appointment will be scheduled with the counselor or a clinic health care provider for pre-test counseling and lab testing. The second appointment is required to obtain the results and to have post-test counseling. HIV results cannot be given over the telephone and a posttest counseling visit is required. Confidential HIV Counseling and Testing for U.Va. Students is also offered by the Office of Health Promotion. Click here for more information.

Pregnancy Testing and Counseling
Call for an appointment. Non-directive counseling is available regarding all pregnancy options and alternatives. These appointments will be scheduled 1-4 days after pregnancy confirmation. Partners are strongly encouraged to attend these counseling sessions.

Maintained by: studenthealth@virginia.edu Last Modified: Thursday, 10-Apr-2008 14:51:24 EDT © 2002 by the Rector and Visitors of the University of Virginia