It’s obvious healthcare has been severely impacted by the coronavirus, but it’s also true that people are unable to access the usual services they need in the health industry due to longer waits, less staff, and closures. Women’s Health services have been hit particularly hard during this time, and especially university students insured by their school.
A huge number of college students receive health insurance through their university. With campuses closed since March, and a number of them not reopening this Fall, women’s health is harder and harder to access. Some classes are only going virtual and each university has a different policy on how they’re reopening and thus how students can get their healthcare.
Women’s Health services at Universities provided places to get birth control, to test for pregnancy, to help with periods and PMS, as well as counseling. Often these health centers will have a referral network within the city or town so students can get the care they need. Contact your university health center about a place where you could get a referral with your insurance.
There’s also a rising demand for Telehealth. Your campus may start providing telehealth services or they might have a partner that they’re already working with. You can even find a therapist on telehealth now.
If you’re at a more rural or smaller school, you can look into the health services in the area. Try contacting your local health department and see how they can help you.
Sexual health is still very important in the COVID Era.
Sexual health during this time is incredibly important, it not only helps you with your overall health, but if you’re having sex during the pandemic you want to make sure you’re still safe and that you’re not over exposed to the virus.
Intimacy can have a huge impact on mental health. It’s hard to completely isolate from the world, so you need to find solutions where sex is still safe and also can still find the testing you need for pregnancy, STI’s, and HIV.
So be sure to ask your campus health center for referrals, call your local health department, and think about telehealth. Sexual health is important and you need to advocate for your own health care needs. Let us know if you have any other suggestions or how you’re navigating sex and sexual health during this time!
