LGBTQIA+ Health

Student Health Center : Texas State University

The Student Health Center's mission is to provide a safe, welcoming and inclusive environment for all students. We provide services to support your health and well-being. Many of our staff, including providers, nurses and administration, are Allies of Texas State. 

We are committed to providing LGBTQIA+ students with quality inclusive healthcare services. This includes primary care, preventive care, mental health services and more. We encourage you to talk to your health care provider openly about your sexual and gender identity as well as sexual behaviors and practices to help with medical decisions. We offer services such as cervical cancer screenings (Pap smears), breast and testicular exams, sexually transmitted infection (STI) screenings, and gender affirming hormone therapy.

How to Make an Appointment

You are able to make appointments by calling 512.245.2161, option 2. We recommend calling for an appointment if you would like to be seen by our LGBTQIA+ Care Team. We also ask that you please let us know your preferred name and personal pronouns so we can properly address you during your visit and add them to your electronic medical record.

Confidentiality

Your confidentiality is important to us and all Student Health Center staff are bound by confidentiality and privacy laws. Your medical information may need to be accessed and used by Student Health Center staff to carry out their job duties related to providing health care, billing and filing insurance claims, scheduling, assisting with referrals, and for quality improvement purposes. Your written and signed authorization will be required if a request for a copy of your medical record is received, unless we are required to do so by law or for public health reporting of a positive STI/HIV test. Anonymous HIV testing is available.

You may call the Student Health Center at 512.245.2161 to talk to the Privacy Officer or Health Information Management Supervisor if you have any questions about our confidentiality procedures.

Gender Affirming Hormone Therapy

Gender Affirming Hormone Therapy is available. We offer masculinizing and feminizing hormone therapy. Our medical providers can provide maintenance hormone services for patients already on stable hormone regimens and patients interested in starting hormone services. You will need to schedule an appointment for a consultation and medical record review before hormone therapy can be prescribed.

Expand FAQ List

  • In our initial consultation, we will go over your eligibility for services and discuss the scope of care for affirming hormone therapy. We will discuss your goals for therapy in relation to your health and health history. We will also do a routine mental health assessment. Upon completion of the initial assessment, we will discuss starting the process of affirming hormone therapy and obtain a signed informed consent for treatment.

    Please know, you can stop or reschedule part of a wellness exam if you are uncomfortable with completing the exam.

  • Your second appointment will be to discuss your hormone goals, risks and any questions you have. We will discuss preventive practices, contraception, STI screening, your safety and mental health.

    If Gender Affirming Hormone Therapy Informed Consent was completed, we can initiate hormone treatments during this appointment.

    • For masculinizing hormone therapy, we will discuss options for testosterone formulation. (If injection is selected, a first dose will be administered during this visit and subsequent injections in our Nurse Clinic.) We will also discuss your preferred contraceptive method, if needed, and STI prevention
    • For feminizing hormone therapy, we will discuss options for your estradiol formulation (Pills or patch). We will prescribe antiandrogenic medication and discuss STI prevention.

    We will schedule follow-ups and lab visits for all individuals that have started gender affirming hormone therapy.

    The process may take more than one or two appointments depending on your health history and needs, your gender development history, and other factors.

  • Testosterone hormone injections may be administered. We will also educate and train you or your partner(s) to administer your injections within 1-5 visits.

  • Lab work will start at the initial consultation and every 3 - 6 months based on the provider's recommendation. 

  • To ensure your safety and the success of the gender affirming hormone therapy, we will schedule provider (doctor or nurse practitioner) visits to review interim lab results and response to hormone therapy every 3 - 4 months.

Informed Consent for Masculinizing Hormone Therapy Form

Informed Consent for Feminizing Hormone Therapy Form

Already on Gender Affirming Hormone Therapy

Individuals interested in continuing their gender affirming hormone therapy at the Student Health Center should bring a copy of their medical records to their appointment or request their medical records be sent to the Texas State Student Health Center ahead of their first appointment. You can do so by requesting a release of medical record from your last medical provider OR have us request it from your medical provider.

We will assess the current regimen for safety and effectiveness to determine if there is a need to adjust your care. We will continue regular follow-up visits to ensure your safety and progress of the gender affirming hormone therapy. We will review interim lab results and response to hormone therapy every 3 - 4 months.

All Gender Restrooms

Single stall restrooms are located throughout the building including the patient area and on the second floor. To access the second floor restrooms take the elevator or stairs and travel around the stairwell to the main hallway, the two all gender restrooms will be located mid way down the hall on your left.

Frequently Asked Questions

Expand FAQ List

  • Insurance coverage and benefits are specific to the plan a person has and all insurance coverage is not the same even within the same insurance company. In order to get information that is about your personal coverage benefits, you must call the member services phone number listed on your insurance card to ask about coverage for the specific services you need. You have a right to request a copy of your policy that covers any trans/gender affirmation medical treatments. You may want to bring the information you obtain or the policy copy to your medical visit to talk about what it means for your access to care. If you have additional questions regarding insurance, or you do not have insurance at all, call 512.245.2161, option 4 to speak to our Billing and Insurance Office.

  • Please let us know when you are making your appointment or checking in for an appointment if you will not be using your insurance. Cash prices are available upon request. For more information on cash prices please call 512.245.2161, option 4 to reach our Billing and Insurance Office.

    It's okay to tell us you don't want to use your insurance. You will have to pay for any services you receive on the day of your visit. Please keep in mind you may have to pay for the following services during a visit: office visit, lab test(s), x-ray(s), prescription(s), procedure and supplies. Cash prices are available upon request. You can also call our Billing and Insurance Office at 512.245.2161, option 4. 

    Privacy Note
    For students who are using their parent's health insurance, please be aware that your parent may receive a summary of your visit from the insurance company (called an Explanation of Benefits). The summary would show what services were received. If you have a privacy concern related to your visit, please call the Billing and Insurance Office at 512.245.2161, option 4 to discuss your options prior to receiving care. You have the option to pay at the time of services and not use your insurance.

     

  • There are many physicians who perform gender affirming surgeries. Once you have established care, we can assist by referring you to a surgeon.

    You can also search for some names of known gender affirmation surgeons at transcaresite.org. Some people check online with others who are in surgery groups for trans and nonbinary people, such as transbucket.com where they can see photographs and talk with people who have worked with a particular surgeon. It is important to learn what you can about a potential surgeon before finalizing your choice. Be sure to ask about what insurance coverage a surgeon accepts for payment, if any, as you make a decision about pursuing surgery. If using your insurance, call your insurance provider to ask if your plan will cover gender affirming surgery.

  • The Texas State Counseling Center is located on the 5th floor of the LBJ Student Center, room 5-4.1. Counseling Center services include brief individual, group, and couples counseling, consultation and crisis response, and workshops about coping with stress and other mental health topics. They are open Monday - Friday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

    When searching for therapists who provide assessments for surgery referrals for transgender and nonbinary patients check transcaresite.org and psychologytoday.com. Many health insurance carriers have lists of gender therapists if you call the member services phone number on the back of your card.

  • Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis, PrEP, is an HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) prevention strategy for HIV-negative individuals. This preventive is a daily pill that helps lower chances of getting HIV. PrEP can stop HIV from taking hold and spreading throughout your body. It is highly effective for preventing HIV if used as prescribed, but it is much less effective when not taken consistently. Daily PrEP use can lower the risk of getting HIV from sex by more than 90%.

    For more information on PrEP, visit the CDC's PeEP webpage.