Sexual Health Clinic

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About the Program

For more than 60 years, the Sexual Health Clinic at Massachusetts General Hospital has provided screening and treatment of sexually transmitted infections. Services are provided in a confidential setting by a professional staff trained in the area of sexually transmitted infections. Everyone is welcome, regardless of age or insurance status.

The Sexual Health Clinic offers the following services for adolescents and adults:

• Evaluation and treatment for sexually transmitted infection including: chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, genital herpes infections (HSV), genital warts - Human papilloma virus (HPV), molluscum, scabies and vaginitis
• Evaluation, testing, and treatment of Mpox
• Testing for the human immunodeficiency virus infection (HIV)
• Initiation of PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis for HIV) in both pill and injectable forms.
• Pap Smear test
• Counseling on prevention of HIV infection
• Testing for Hepatitis C
• Vaccinations for sexually transmitted infections
• Post-exposure prophylaxis (nPEP) after a sexual exposure to HIV
• Doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis for STIs (aka Doxy PEP)
• Information and literature regarding sexually transmitted infections and safer sex practices
• Tele-Health:
• Virtual visit for PrEP and/or Doxy-PEP, followed by an in-person visit for HIV/STI screening and safety labs (this would occur within 1 week of the virtual visit, and during specified walk-in hours).
• HIV and STI education/counseling.

Frequently-Asked Questions about Health Insurance

Sexual Health Clinic Staff

Medical Director

Kevin Ard

Nurse Practitioners

Vitor Cardoso
Diane Kanjilal
Nancy Nicholson
Bobby Ober
Emily Perriello
Daniel Worrall

Nurses

Theresa Minukas (Nurse Manager)
Alissa Kim
Dari Vasquez

Administrative Manager

Chris England

Administrative

Brittany Archie
Murillo Duarte
Chris England
Patty Lopes

Community Engagement

Eric Jaukkuri

Data Analyst

Christine Germain

Research

Daniel Kong

Events

Let’s Talk Hanky (see flyer)
Date: Tuesday, May 13
Time: 5:30-7:30pm
Location: MGH Sexual Health Clinic, Cox 5

Program:
History of the Handkerchief:  Eric Jaukkuri
Talk to your partner about an STI diagnosis: Karolyn Brower
PrEP/Doxy PEP talk: Dr. Kevin Ard

Boston Spirit Networking Event
Date: Wednesday, May 14
Time: 6-9pm
Location: Marriott Copley Place

Corporate professionals from Greater Boston and beyond will gather at the Boston Marriott Copley Place Ballroom from 6 to 9 p.m. for an evening of networking, socializing and business conversation. This promises to be a special night and one you do not want to miss!

This year, in lieu of a featured speaker, the event will host a panel of national leaders to discuss the wave of anti-LGBT legislation being introduced by the federal government. The panel will address the current environment and inform attendees on what is being done to ensure that the community continues to survive and thrive. Panelists include

Sex Trivia
Date: Wednesday, May 14
Time: 7pm
Location: Long Live Roxbury

May is Masturbation Month! This year marks the 30th anniversary of this sex-positive celebration. Masturbation Month, started by activists and Good Vibrations retailers in 1995, was a response to the forced resignation of Surgeon General Dr. Joycelyn Elders after she stated that masturbation “is something that is a part of human sexuality and… something that perhaps should be taught” in sex-ed classes.

MGH Chelsea Research Festival
Date: Thursday, May 14
Time: 5:30 – 7:30pm
Location: Chelsea High School Gymnasium

Chelsea residents are knowledgeable, resilient, and resourceful. We take an active role in our community and in our health and often work with researchers who study how to improve quality of life amidst challenges related to access to services, environmental injustice, and COVID-19 spread. However, the Chelsea residents who spend time and energy participating in research often don't get to hear about the results of these studies.

The Chelsea Research Festival highlights Chelsea residents' contributions to science and bridges the gap between community and research. Chelsea Research Festival is a research poster session that showcases research that is either ABOUT Chelsea or conducted BY Chelsea community members---or both!

Panel, Ballroom Scene with the Blu Foundation
Date: Friday, May 16
Time: 12-1pm
Location: Virtual

BAGLY, Youth Pride
Date: Saturday, May 17
Time: 9am-4pm
Location: City Hall Plaza

A Pride Just for YOU(th): Massachusetts Youth Pride is the oldest youth-led, adult-supported LGBTQ+ Youth Pride celebration in the country! Massachusetts Youth Pride is held annually in May and features a march, festival, community partner resource fair, and a live stage show produced by LGBTQ+ youth!

“Be Your Own Advocate” at the MAC
Date: Thursday, May 22
Time: 5:30-7:30pm
Location: the Multicultural AIDS Coalition

Cheesecake and Conversation – the Jeffersons
Date: Friday, May 30
Time: 12-1:30pm
Location: Yawkey 4^th Floor, Room 930

Research Studies

ePN Study

Help improve STI care! Men who have sex with men; as well as transgender women (18+) can join a study on electronic partner notifications for sexually transmitted infections. Complete an anonymous survey to share your preferences and earn a $10 gift card.

Help Shape the Future of STI Care in Massachusetts!
We’re conducting a study to inform the creation of an electronic partner notification (ePN) system for the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. ePN allows individuals diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection (STI) to anonymously and privately notify their sexual partners, linking them to care while maintaining confidentiality.

What Does this Study Involved?

• Complete an anonymous survey about your preferences for ePN.
• Participation is voluntary, and your privacy is fully protected—no personal identifiers will be linked to your responses.

Who Can Join?

• Men who have sex with men (including transgender men), 18 years or older
• Transgender women, 18 years or older.

Where to Participate?
Our survey can be completed online, independently, and on your own time. To receive a link to the survey, please contact our staff.

What’s in it for You?

• You’ll receive a $10 gift card to Target, Dunkin, Starbucks, or Subway within two weeks of completing the survey.

Who’s Behind the Study?
This study is a collaboration between the MGH Sexual Health Clinic and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, funded by the Harvard Center for AIDS Research. It’s led by Dr. Ingrid Bassett and Dr. Kevin Ard.

📩 Questions? Contact Dr. Ingrid Bassett at ibassett@mgh.harvard.edu.

👉 To Participate: Visit or contact study sites listed above

Your input will help improve STI prevention and care—thank you for contributing to public health!

Resources

Patient Resources

Sex Week Boston

Sex Week Boston centers sexual and reproductive justice, queer and trans liberation, and sexual freedom for all.

We love sex education that is affirming of all genders, sexualities, desires, and relationship structures—with consent as a foundation. This means queer and straight friendly, trans and cis friendly, non-monogamy and monogamy friendly, and kink and vanilla friendly.

Our vision for sex education comes from a perspective of intersectional liberation. This means recognizing the ways that sexism, racism, classism, ableism, homophobia, transphobia, capitalism, and other systems of oppression impact all our lives. It also means pushing back against these oppressive systems, both in our own lives and in our education and advocacy efforts.

Reproductive Health in a Post-Roe America: What it means for STI Prevention

NCSD Real Talk's second episode, "Reproductive Health in a Post-Roe America: What It Means for STI Prevention", is now live! In this episode, we'll examine how changing abortion laws impact access to STI services, contraception, and sexual health education.

Cancer Center, Sexual Health Clinic
A cancer diagnosis and treatment can cause physical and emotional changes that can impact sexual function. Interventions offered by the Sexual Health Clinic may be able to help. Our goal is to help you maintain or reconnect with your sexual being after cancer. Appointments consist of: assessment, intervention, education, and support.
More information

LGBTQ+ Healthcare Directory
The LGBTQ+ Healthcare Directory is a project of the Tegan and Sara Foundation and GLMA – Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ+ Equality. It is a free, searchable database of all kinds of doctors, medical professionals and healthcare providers who are knowledgeable and sensitive to the unique health needs of LGBTQ+ people in the USA and Canada. LGBTQ+ patients deserve healthcare providers who they can be open and honest with —free from fear of stigma or bias. The simple act of connecting patients with care is a solution to this problem.

Mental Health Resources

Find a therapist

Therapy Matcher

Therapy Matcher provides free, personalized, and confidential referrals to licensed independent clinical social workers across Massachusetts.

Psychology Today

Find a therapist in Massachusetts and is a media company that publishes a magazine and a website about human behavior and mental health. 

MA Behavioral Health Help Line

Call or Text: 833.773.2445

The Massachusetts Behavioral Health Help Line (BHHL) is here to connect you directly to clinical help, when and where you need it. Even if you’re not sure what kind of help or treatment you may need, we can help guide you.

• It’s free, confidential, and no health insurance is required.
• Real-time interpretation in 200+ languages.
• Deaf or hard of hearing? Contact MassRelay at 711, or use your video relay or caption provider of choice.

The Trevor Project

Phone: 1-866-488-7386

Text: Text ‘START’ to 678-678

If you are thinking about harming yourself — get immediate crisis support. Connect to a crisis counselor 24/7, 365 days a year, from anywhere in the U.S via text, chat, or phone. The Trevor Project is 100% confidential and 100% free.

Community Partners

Community Partner Highlight

WICKED QUEER

What is Wicked Queer?

Founded in Boston in 1984, Wicked Queer’s mission is to maintain a community space for filmmakers where the full spectrum of storytelling is encouraged to happen. We are an all-volunteer organization and one of the longest-running LGBTQ+ film festivals in the world. As part of the Queer Film Institute, we host our main event every spring, screening around 40 feature films and short-film programs in venues throughout Greater Boston, and a documentary-focused festival in the fall. Our programming is designed to reflect every color of the Pride flag, and represent people from various backgrounds and communities, including people with disabilities, the elderly, at-risk youth, minorities, and refugees.

Upcoming Events:

The 41st Annual Wicked Queer Film Festival starts on Friday, April 4th, and runs through April 13th.

Follow on Social Media:

• Instagram and Facebook: @wickedqueer
• YouTube and Bluesky: @wickedqueer.boston

Become part of Wicked Queer:

• Volunteer!
• Donate!
• Go to www.queer.film/wickedqueer to sign up for our newsletter!

Mpox

Mpox Vaccination 
The MGH Sexual Health Clinic is offering vaccinations against mpox. To schedule an appointment for the vaccine, please call us at 617-726-2748.

If you are unable to come to the MGH Sexual Health Clinic, please refer to the list of clinics in Massachusetts offering vaccine appointments.
Should I get vaccinated?

Vaccination is one of the best ways to protect yourself against mpox. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends the mpox vaccine if you have not already been infected with mpox and either:

• Are a sexually active gay or bisexual man, trans woman, or nonbinary person who within the past 6 months has had a sexually transmitted infection (STI), multiple sexual partners, anonymous sexual activities, or sex at a sex club or large public event where mpox transmission is occurring
• Have had sex or intimate contact with someone who has mpox or meets the criteria described above, regardless of your sexual orientation or gender identity

If you have recovered from mpox, you do not need the mpox vaccine.