The Health Center strives to provide inclusive, respectful, compassionate medical services for students of all gender identities and sexual orientations. We encourage and provide training for our staff on health care challenges encountered by the LGBTQIA2S+ communities and look for ways to improve our systems and communication to better serve our patients. Our goal is to provide personalized care that helps you live your best version of healthy.
For trans-specific medical care, such as prescriptions for gender affirming hormone treatment, our primary care team can connect you with a specialist in the community. We are happy to provide referrals for these specialists as required by your insurance provider. To make an appointment to get a referral, or to have a confidential conversation with a provider about your health, call the Health Center at 503.943.7134.
PrEP is the use of daily HIV treatment medications by HIV-negative people to protect them from getting HIV. The Health Center can prescribe PrEP to students who are at high risk of infection and would benefit from the treatment. To make an appointment to get a prescription and have a confidential conversation with a provider, call the Health Center at 503.943.7134.
Click here to view an informational handout on PrEP provided by the National LGBT Health Education Center.
The Health Center offers confidential STI testing and treatment. Our compassionate and non-judgmental staff is happy to provide information to help you prevent STIs.
Anybody who has oral, anal, or vaginal sex, or genital skin-to-skin contact with another person can get STIs. STIs usually don’t have any symptoms. The only way to know for sure if you or a partner has an STI is to get tested.
Tests available at the Health Center:
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), lesbian, gay and bisexual people experience sexual violence at similar or higher rates than straight people. Within the LGBTQ+ community, transgender people and bisexual women face the most alarming rates of sexual violence. For LGBTQ+ survivors of sexual assault, a history of systemic discrimination often make them hesitant to seek help from health care centers, police, shelters or sexual assault crisis centers.
At the Health Center we strive to provide trauma-informed care, that supports your needs and gives you choices for care. We are a confidential resource and can help you explore your options. If you are a victim of sexual assault you can review your on-campus resources, or call the Health Center at 503.943.7134 to discuss your options.
Click here and scroll to the bottom of the page to view videos discussing the confidential health and counseling services that we offer to survivors of sexual assault and other interpersonal violence.
You can also scroll to the bottom of this page for a list of off-campus resources for survivors of sexual assault.
In November 2021, UP's Clark Library received a grant to purchase books and other materials related to LGBTQIA+ identities, history, health, terminology, support, etc. Students can access these free resources through the Clark Library's website by using their normal UP login. Examples of materials include:
We understand that people of marginalized backgrounds have difficulty finding representation in the health services that they receive, and LGBTQIA2S+ people have unique wellness needs because of the health disparities that they face. To find support outside of the UP community, students are also welcomed to utilize the following off-campus resources.
Please note that the off-campus resources listed below are not affiliated with the University of Portland. If a link on this list is no longer functioning, please send an email to hcc@up.edu to let us know!
Do Ask, Do Tell: Talking to your health care provider about being LGBTQ – A guide by the National LGBT Health Education Center
Health Care Bill of Rights – A list of rights that LGBT+ people have when you visit a healthcare provider
How to find and choose a LGBTQ+ Healthcare provider – A guide by LGBTQ+ Youth HeLP
Let’s Talk About It: A Transgender Survivor’s Guide to Accessing Therapy - A guide by FORGE
Local Resources:
National Resources: