Sexual Health Clinic
Sexual Health Clinic
WHERE YOUR HEALTH COMES FIRST
Stigma-free sexual health care
The Sexual Health Clinic (SHC) provides accessible, stigma-free sexual health care to community members of the Central Savannah River Area (CSRA). All patients are welcome, regardless of insurance status.
SHC services include the following:
- STI Testing & Treatment (i.e., chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis)
- HIV Testing + Linkage to Care
- Hepatitis C Testing & Treatment
- PrEP & PEP
- DoxyPEP
- Mpox Testing & Vaccination
- Sexual Health Education
To schedule an appointment, call the SHC Hotline, 803-859-9252, or submit a request online. Walks-ins are also welcome (see clinic hours and locations below), but scheduling an appointment is preferred.
Clinic Location
Clyburn Center for Primary Care
Adult Medicine Department (Second Floor)
1000 Clyburn Place, Aiken, SC 29801
Clinic Hours
Every Wednesday and Friday afternoon
1 PM – 5 PM
WHERE YOUR HEALTH COMES FIRST
Frequently Asked Questions
Individuals exposed to a STI from a sexual partner should be seen by a medical provider for testing and treatment. Many patients are able to receive treatment for certain STIs, such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis, before their lab results return. All recent sexual partners should be encouraged to get tested as well, if applicable.
If you have been exposed to HIV or the HIV status of a sexual partner is unknown, you may be eligible for PEP (Post-Exposure Prophylaxis). PEP is a medication that reduces the risk of infection by up to 90% for individuals exposed to HIV. PEP, which is taken daily for 28 days, must be initiated within 72 hours of the exposure. Patients who complete PEP are encouraged to consider PrEP.
HIV preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is the process when a person without HIV takes antiretroviral medications to prevent the acquisition of HIV. The goal of HIV PrEP is to prevent new HIV infections. Among people who take HIV PrEP medications as prescribed, the medications are more than 90% effective for preventing sexual acquisition of HIV and approximately 70% effective in preventing HIV acquisition among people who inject drugs.
DoxyPEP (Doxycycline Post-Exposure Prophylaxis) is a medication taken after sex to prevent sexual transmission of bacterial STIs, such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and mycoplasma genitalium. DoxyPEP, which is currently only recommended for men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women, must be taken within 72 hours of a sexual encounter to be effective.
Individuals 18 years old and older with a risk of mpox infection should consider getting vaccinated. Individuals with a risk to mpox are considered the following: men who have sex with men; transgender and non-binary people with more than one sexual partner in the past 6 months; people who have had intimate contact with someone who has suspected or confirmed mpox; people who work in certain healthcare settings. The mpox vaccine is safe for people living with HIV.
The CDC recommends that all adults 18 and older get tested for Hepatitis C at least once in their lifetime. The CDC also recommends more frequent testing for certain individuals, such as those who:
- Inject drugs, even if only once or many years ago
- Have HIV
- Have abnormal liver tests, liver disease, or are on hemodialysis
- Received blood or organ donations before July 1992
Our TEAM
Grayson Ross
Sexual Health Program Manager
Lavonna Best, FNP-BC
Sexual Health Clinical Provider
Khyli Kinsey
Sexual Health Medical Assistant
Empowering Change Together
CDC-Funded SHC Celebrates Key Contributors and Community Partners
The SHC was made possible due to funding from the CDC and support from our community partners. A big thank you to the following individuals on our Sexual Health Community Advisory Committee: Carsyn Zambrano from South Carolina Department of Public Health; Catherine Rudnick from South Carolina Department of Public Health; Tiiu Goode from Aiken Youth Empowerment; Donna Wesby from Umoja Village; Catherine Vance from Aiken Center – Alcohol and Drugs; Cheryl Virginia Harrison from USC Aiken; and Orion Jeter from Community Medical Clinic of Aiken County. If you would like to support the work being done in the SHC, please reach out to Program Manager Grayson Ross at gross@ruralhs.org. Thank you!