Sexual & Reproductive Health


Service alert - COVID-19
Sexual Health Services – walk-in or same-day in-office services are not currently available; services will be provided to clients over the phone. Call 651-266-1255 with questions.
Syringe Services – walk-up visits will continue.
Clinic 555
Small and personal sexual and reproductive health clinic located downtown Saint Paul.
Clinic 555 offers confidential, low-cost, quality sexual and reproductive health services for adults and teens. Services range from low cost to free. Fees are based on family size and income. No one will be turned away for lack of funds.
- Bring photo ID and insurance card.
- Billing is available for Medical Assistance (MA) and some insurances.
Location
Clinic 555
Saint Paul - Ramsey County Public Health Center:
555 Cedar Street
Saint Paul, MN 55101
Metro Transit bus lines and 10th Street Green Line stop located near the clinic. Patient parking is available.
Appointments
Call 651-266-1255 to schedule an appointment.
Walk-in service is available, but appointments are recommended.
Patients with appointments will be seen ahead of those who walk-in.
Days | Hours |
---|---|
Monday and Wednesday | 8:15 - 11:30 a.m. 1 - 3:30 p.m. |
Tuesday and Thursday | 8:15 - 11:30 a.m. 1 - 6:30 p.m. |
Friday | 8:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. |
The clinic is closed from noon - 1 p.m., Monday - Thursday. |
Pregnancy testing and birth control
Pregnancy Testing
The thought of pregnancy can be an emotional time for many women. If you have missed a period and think you may be pregnant, you should take a test.
- Pregnancy testing is available with same day results.
- Counseling and educational materials are offered to anyone wanting to discuss pregnancy and pregnancy alternatives.
Birth Control
Choosing the right birth control method can be a very personal decision. As you are reviewing your options, our staff is willing to assist in making the decision that's right for you and your body. Clinic 555 offers the following medically accepted methods of birth control:
- The Pill (oral contraceptives)
- The shot (Depo Provera)
- Implant (NexPlanon)
- IUD (ParaGard and Mirena)
- The patch (Xulane)
- The ring (Nuva Ring)
- Condoms
- Natural family planning
- Abstinence
Emergency contraception
Emergency contraception (sometimes called the “morning after pill”) helps prevent pregnancy when taken within 120 hours after sex without birth control (unprotected intercourse) or failed birth control. If you think you need emergency contraception, call as soon as possible. Most women will not need an exam – but may need to answer a series of questions.
Learn more about emergency contraception
Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)
Get checked immediately if you are experiencing any of the following symptoms.
Symptoms
- Unusual discharge.
- Sores, bumps, blisters or itching in the genital area.
- Burning or pain with urination.
- Pain in the pelvic area.
- Irregular bleeding.
- Pain during sex.
Testing and treatment
- Standard STD testing includes (but is not limited to) chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and HIV.
- Some STD testing is done by collecting a urine sample. Please do not urinate one hour prior to testing.
- Time frame to test for chlamydia and gonorrhea is 7-10 days after exposure.
- Diagnosis and treatment for genital warts is available if there is a growth.
- Testing for trichomoniasis is available if symptoms are present.
- Clients who have been in contact or who test positive will receive appropriate treatment from Clinic 555.
More information
HIV, PrEP and PEP
Confidential HIV testing services, support and care for those newly diagnosed, HIV prevention education, PrEP and PEP.
HIV test
Clinic 555 offers two types of HIV tests. Test results are given to you during your visit. All results are confidential. HIV prevention education is offered.
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Rapid antibody test: Results take about 15 minutes. Tests whether or not there are antibodies to HIV in your blood. (Antibodies are your body’s immune response to infection.) If you contracted HIV, most people will have enough antibodies in their blood to test positive for HIV about 6 weeks after getting infected.
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Rapid antibody/antigen combination test: Results take about 30 minutes. Tests whether or not there are antibodies to HIV and parts of the virus called the p24 antigen in your blood. If you contracted HIV, most people will have enough antigen in their blood to test positive for HIV about 2 weeks after getting infected. This test can show whether HIV is in your body sooner than the test above.
Resources for HIV positive patients
If you test positive for HIV at Clinic 555, our health care providers will connect you with excellent medical care, as well as provide you with support, information, and referrals to community agencies.
HIV prevention:
PrEP
PrEP stands for pre-exposure prophylaxis. It is a pill taken everyday to prevent someone from getting HIV. If taken everyday, PrEP can lower your chances of getting HIV by up to 99%.
PEP
PEP stand for post-exposure prophylaxis, is medication for people who do not have HIV but may have been exposed to it within the last 72 hours/3 days. PEP is not a guarantee that you will not get HIV, but the sooner you start PEP after the exposure, the more effective it can be. PEP is only for high risk situations. The following situations are high risk if done with a partner who has HIV or, if their HIV status is unknown, there is a significant possibility that they have HIV:
- anal or vaginal sex without a condom (including sexual assault)
- sharing drug injection equipment
Clinic 555 will help you decide if PrEP or PEP are right for you and will assist you with medication coverage/paying for the medication.
Syringe services program
Clinic 555 Syringe Services Program provides the following services in a safe and nonjudgmental setting:
- Anonymous syringe exchange and disposal.
- Narcan (overdose reversal medication).
- Wound care.
- HIV & Hepatitis C testing.
- Connection to community resources.
Syringe Services hours:
Monday: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Tuesday: 1 - 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday: 1 - 4:30 p.m.
Thursday: 10:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Friday: 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Annual exams and pap smears
Annual gynecological exam
An annual gynecological (GYN) exam is a normal and important part of taking care of your reproductive health. Primary care providers offer annual exams, but if you are uninsured or do not have a primary care provider, Clinic 555 is happy to schedule you for an annual exam. Depending on your needs, an exam may include a breast exam, pelvic exam, Pap smear, mammogram referral, testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections (STI’s), and contraceptive method consultation.
Pap smear
A test to check for changes in the cells of your cervix. This test can determine if you have an infection, abnormal or unhealthy cervical cells or cervical cancer. This test is recommended for every woman who is 21 years and older. Results from your Pap test normally take about two weeks and you will be contacted if the results are NOT normal (abnormal).
Abnormal pap test results do not mean that you have cancer. Most often there is a small problem with the cervix. If this is the case, a nurse will contact you by phone to discuss next steps.
If the results of the pap test are unclear or show a small change in the cells of the cervix, you will most likely be asked to repeat your pap test. If the test finds more serious changes, you might be asked to have a colposcopy. Clinic 555 offers follow-up and treatment to abnormal pap tests.
Colposcopy
Colposcopy is a special exam done for women who have had abnormal pap smears. The cervix is viewed through a special magnifying instrument called a colposcope. The colposcope allows the doctor or nurse to see the cells of the vagina and cervix in great detail. If the colposcope detects abnormal cells on your cervix, you may be recommended to have a LEEP procedure.
LEEP or LOOP (Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure)
LEEP is used to remove the abnormal cells of the cervix. The procedure uses a thin wire to cut away a very thin layer of surface cells. During LEEP, your cervix will be numbed with a local anesthesia. The procedure takes only a few minutes and recovery time is brief in most cases.
Breast and cervical cancer screening
Sage program for women
The Minnesota Department of Health’s Sage Screening Program offers free mammograms and Pap smears to eligible women. To be eligible for the program, women must be uninsured or underinsured and meet program financial guidelines.
- For eligible women between the ages of 21-64, Clinic 555 will provide free Pap smears and follow-up cervical health procedures if needed.
- For eligible women 40 years and older, Clinic 555 will provide free breast exams and refer clients to another health center for mammograms.
Please see the Sage website for more information.
Call us for more information or to to schedule an appointment.
Clinic 555 services are supported by a grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Population Affairs, Title X.
This page contains HIV prevention messages that may not be appropriate for all audiences. Since HIV infection is spread primarily though sexual practices or by sharing needles, prevention messages and programs may address these topics. If you are not seeking such information or materials, please exit this website.