Understand what sexual health services are
If you have ever wondered, “what do sexual health services include?”, you are not alone. Sexual health covers more than STI tests or birth control. It is about protecting your body, supporting your emotional wellbeing, and giving you clear information so you can feel confident about your choices.
Sexual health services can be found in many places, including public health clinics, primary care offices, Planned Parenthood centers, and community organizations (Guttmacher Institute). In Virginia, for example, services are offered through Title X family planning clinics, local health districts, and programs like the Contraceptive Access Initiative and home HIV testing programs (Virginia Department of Health).
In general, sexual health services include:
- STI and HIV testing, treatment, and prevention
- Family planning and birth control
- Vaccines that protect your sexual health
- Behavioral and mental health support, including sex therapy and counseling
- Education on safer sex, communication, and healthy relationships
Each piece works together to help you stay healthy and feel more at ease in your sexual life.
Get tested and treated for STIs
One of the most common questions about what sexual health services include is whether they cover sexually transmitted infections. They do, and in a very comprehensive way.
STI and HIV testing options
Sexual health services offer testing for many sexually transmitted infections (STIs) or sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) such as:
- Chlamydia
- Gonorrhea
- Syphilis
- Trichomoniasis
- HIV
- Hepatitis B and C
- Genital herpes
- Human papillomavirus (HPV), often through cervical cancer screening rather than a stand-alone HPV test
To diagnose these infections, clinics use several types of lab tests, for example:
- Blood tests
- Urine tests
- Swabs from the vagina, penis, throat, or anus
- In some complex cases, a lumbar puncture for infections that may affect the nervous system (MedlinePlus)
Your visit usually starts with a sexual history and a conversation about any symptoms you may have. A clinician may do a physical or pelvic exam to look for signs such as rashes, warts, or discharge (Mayo Clinic).
Many STIs can be present without symptoms, so regular screening is important if you are sexually active. Recommended testing schedules depend on factors like:
- Your age
- Your number of partners
- The types of sex you have
- Pregnancy status
- HIV status
For example, expert guidelines recommend at least one HIV test for everyone between 15 and 65, with more frequent testing for people at higher risk (Mayo Clinic, Mayo Clinic).
At home STI testing
If going into a clinic feels stressful, some sexual health services provide at home STI testing kits. These kits often allow you to collect:
- Urine samples
- Swabs from genital areas or the mouth
- Small blood samples by finger stick
You then send the sample to a lab. At home options are available for infections like HIV, chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, trichomoniasis, and hepatitis C (MedlinePlus, Mayo Clinic). In Virginia and Maryland, there is even a free Home HIV Testing Program that lets residents order a rapid oral swab test once every 90 days, with results in about 20 minutes (Virginia Department of Health).
STI treatment and partner notification
If you test positive, sexual health services help you move from worry to a clear action plan. Treatment usually includes:
- Antibiotics for bacterial infections like chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis
- Antiviral medications for viral infections such as herpes and HIV
- Instructions on how and when to take your medications
- Guidance on when you can safely have sex again
- Retesting at a later date to confirm the infection has cleared or is well managed (Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic)
Your provider will encourage you to complete the full course of medication, even if you start to feel better early. This lowers the chance of complications and reinfection.
Sexual health services also help you notify recent partners so they can get tested and treated. In many places, public health departments can contact partners confidentially without sharing your name, which helps slow the spread of infections while protecting your privacy (Mayo Clinic). Some clinics use expedited partner therapy, where a partner can receive treatment without an in person exam in certain situations (Cleveland Clinic).
Local example in Prince William Health District
In Virginia, the Prince William Health District’s STI clinics offer:
- Confidential STI screening and detection
- Treatment when needed
- Education on prevention and follow up care
You can schedule or request same day appointments Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. They ask you to bring your health insurance information and proof of income if you have it (Virginia Department of Health).
Access HIV prevention and PrEP
HIV prevention is a key part of what sexual health services include. Along with testing, many clinics provide HIV prevention tools so you can reduce your risk.
HIV testing
Sexual health services typically offer:
- Routine HIV screening for adolescents and adults
- More frequent testing for people with higher risk, such as those with multiple partners or those who have other STIs
- At home HIV test kits in some regions, such as the free oral swab program for Virginia and Maryland residents that provides results in about 20 minutes (Virginia Department of Health, Mayo Clinic)
PrEP and comprehensive HIV prevention
Pre Exposure Prophylaxis, or PrEP, is a daily medication or long acting injection that can significantly lower your risk of getting HIV when taken as prescribed. In the Prince William Health District, for example, sexual health services include:
- Evaluation for PrEP
- Prescriptions for daily pills or injections
- Regular follow up visits to monitor labs and support adherence
- Education on how PrEP fits into a broader prevention plan that may also involve condoms and regular testing (Virginia Department of Health)
PrEP services are designed to be confidential and judgment free, so you can talk openly about your sexual life and find an approach that fits you.
Use family planning and birth control
When you think about what sexual health services include, family planning is often at the top of the list. These services help you prevent pregnancy, plan pregnancies, or understand your options if you are not sure what you want yet.
Birth control options and counseling
Sexual health providers can walk you through:
- Hormonal methods such as pills, patches, rings, injections, implants
- Intrauterine devices (IUDs), both hormonal and copper
- Barrier methods like condoms and diaphragms
- Emergency contraception
- Fertility awareness methods
In the United States, many of these services are supported by public programs. Title X, for example, is a federal program that funds family planning clinics that offer:
- A wide range of contraceptive methods
- Pregnancy testing and counseling
- STI testing and treatment
- Services at low or no cost for people who are uninsured or cannot use their insurance (Guttmacher Institute)
In Virginia, Title X clinics provide birth control and reproductive health services on a sliding scale. Everyone is eligible regardless of income, race, ethnicity, immigration status, ability, sex, or gender identity (Virginia Department of Health).
Programs that improve access
If cost is a concern, look for programs like:
- The Contraceptive Access Initiative in Virginia, which offers free birth control to eligible patients whose income is under 250 percent of the federal poverty level and who do not have insurance or cannot safely use it (Virginia Department of Health)
- Medicaid coverage of reproductive health services for people who qualify, which includes contraception and related care (Guttmacher Institute, Virginia Department of Health)
Many publicly supported clinics provide not only birth control but also primary care, breast and cervical cancer screening, pregnancy related care, and STI services, so you can address many health needs in one place (Guttmacher Institute).
Protect yourself with vaccines and condoms
Preventive tools are an important answer to the question, “what do sexual health services include?” They help you lower your risk before problems start.
Vaccines connected to sexual health
Depending on your age and medical history, sexual health services may recommend vaccines that protect against infections that can be spread through sexual contact, such as:
- Hepatitis B
- Hepatitis A
- Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
- Mpox in specific circumstances
For example, the Prince William Health District reviews your immunization record and may offer vaccines for hepatitis A and B, HPV, and Mpox if a provider recommends them (Virginia Department of Health). HPV vaccination is generally recommended starting at ages 11 to 12 and can be given up to age 45 to help prevent HPV related complications (Cleveland Clinic).
Free condom programs
Condoms are a simple tool that can lower the risk of many STIs and also help prevent pregnancy. Some health departments make them easy to access. In Virginia, for instance, the Division of Disease Prevention runs a Condom Distribution Program that supplies free condoms to health districts and community partners, including specialty options like non latex and Trojan Magnum condoms (Virginia Department of Health).
If you are not in Virginia, check your state or local health department website. Many have similar programs or maintain lists of locations where you can pick up free condoms.
Receive behavioral counseling and sex therapy
Sexual health is not only physical. Emotional comfort, mental health, and communication skills play a huge role. That is why behavioral counseling and sex therapy are part of many sexual health services.
Behavioral counseling for STI prevention
Behavioral counseling is designed to give you:
- Clear information about STIs and how they spread
- A realistic sense of your own risk
- Motivation to practice safer sex
- Practical skills, such as how to use condoms, negotiate condom use, or reduce your number of concurrent partners
These interventions can happen in different formats, including:
- One on one sessions
- Small group sessions
- Educational videos or websites
- Written materials
- Telephone or text based support (USPSTF)
More intensive programs often involve at least 120 minutes of counseling spread over several sessions, although shorter interventions, under 30 minutes total, have also been shown to help in some groups (USPSTF).
Clinicians typically start by taking a sexual history to identify whether you are at increased risk, for example if you:
- Have had prior or current STIs
- Use condoms inconsistently
- Have multiple partners
- Belong to a group with higher STI prevalence (USPSTF)
They may use techniques like motivational interviewing or cognitive behavioral therapy to help you build new habits and feel more in control of your choices.
Sexual health services also often connect people to resources if they are experiencing sexual violence or sex trafficking, recognizing that these situations require specialized support beyond standard counseling (USPSTF).
Sex therapists and sexual wellbeing
Some sexual health services include or refer you to sex therapists. A sex therapist is a mental health professional who focuses on the emotional and psychological side of sex, intimacy, and relationships.
Sex therapists can help you and, if you choose, your partner work through issues such as:
- Low desire
- Difficulty with arousal or orgasm
- Pain during sex
- Anxiety related to sex or past experiences
- Mismatched desire between partners
- Impact of medical conditions on sexual life
According to Cleveland Clinic, sex therapists provide talk therapy and may use tools such as:
- Identifying and changing thought patterns that interfere with sexual satisfaction
- Role playing conversations
- Assigning at home exercises to build trust and intimacy
There is no physical or sexual contact in therapy sessions. If there is a physical or medical issue, a sex therapist will refer you to a medical provider to address that part of the problem (Cleveland Clinic).
Certified sex therapists receive extensive training, often around nine years of education and supervised practice. This is different from sex counselors who may focus on more short term education and coaching (Cleveland Clinic).
Learn about safer sex and prevention
Information and education are built into almost every aspect of sexual health services. You are not just treated, you are also taught how to protect yourself in the future.
Prevention strategies you may discuss
When you meet with a provider, you might talk through topics such as:
- How STIs are spread through sexual contact with genitals or bodily fluids
- Which specific behaviors carry higher or lower risk
- The fact that many STIs can exist without symptoms
- The role of abstinence, mutual monogamy, and regular screening
- Correct and consistent condom use
- The benefits of vaccines like HPV and hepatitis B
- How alcohol or drugs can affect your ability to consent or use protection (MedlinePlus, Cleveland Clinic)
You can also receive guidance on how to talk with partners about STI testing, status, and boundaries. Many people feel nervous discussing sexual health, and having a few phrases or strategies ready can make those conversations less awkward.
Mental health and coping support
A new STI diagnosis, fertility concern, or sexual difficulty can bring up a lot of emotions. Some sexual health services offer or connect you to:
- Individual counseling to deal with anxiety, shame, or stigma
- Couples counseling to help you and your partner adjust and communicate
- Support groups or peer led resources
Cleveland Clinic notes that mental health support is a key part of comprehensive care for people with STIs, because it can help you cope with the diagnosis and stick with your treatment and prevention plan (Cleveland Clinic).
Know where you can go for care
To bring everything together, here is a quick view of the kinds of support you can expect when you seek out sexual health services.
| Type of service | What it can include | Where you might find it |
|---|---|---|
| STI and HIV testing | Physical exams, blood tests, urine and swab tests, at home kits, routine screening | Health departments, family planning clinics, primary care, community clinics, some telehealth programs (MedlinePlus, Mayo Clinic) |
| STI and HIV treatment | Antibiotic and antiviral medications, partner notification, retesting, prevention counseling | STI clinics, primary care providers, infectious disease specialists (Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic) |
| HIV prevention | PrEP evaluation and prescriptions, regular follow up, at home HIV tests | HIV clinics, health departments, sexual health clinics (Virginia Department of Health, Virginia Department of Health) |
| Family planning and contraception | Birth control counseling, pregnancy testing, reproductive health exams | Title X clinics, Planned Parenthood centers, community health centers (Guttmacher Institute, Virginia Department of Health) |
| Vaccines and condoms | Hepatitis A and B, HPV, Mpox vaccines, free condoms and education | Health departments, STI clinics, school based programs, community partners (Virginia Department of Health, Virginia Department of Health) |
| Behavioral counseling and sex therapy | Risk reduction counseling, communication skills, sex therapy for dysfunction and intimacy issues | Primary care, counseling centers, specialized sex therapists (USPSTF, Cleveland Clinic) |
Take your next step with confidence
When you look closely at what sexual health services include, you see a wide network of support: testing, treatment, prevention, counseling, and education. No matter your age, orientation, relationship status, or experience level, these services are designed to meet you where you are.
You might start small by:
- Scheduling an STI screening if it has been a while
- Asking about birth control options that match your lifestyle
- Talking with a provider about PrEP if HIV prevention is on your mind
- Reaching out to a counselor or sex therapist if you feel stuck or worried about any part of your sexual life
Each step gives you more information, more options, and more confidence. Your sexual health is part of your overall wellbeing, and you deserve care that feels respectful, clear, and supportive.
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