Sexual & Reproductive Health
Comprehensive Services For All
Reproductive health & family planning services are offered at Heartland Community Health Center for all people, regardless of insurance status. These services include contraceptive services, pregnancy testing, screenings for breast and cervical cancer and sexually transmitted infection testing and treatment.
Heartland is your community resource for all reproductive health and family planning needs, including:
- Pregnancy testing
- Contraception/birth control (see list below)
- Testicular exams
- Sexually-transmitted infection (STI) testing & treatment
- HIV testing, treatment, and prevention
- Health education and counseling
- Cervical cancer (HPV) screening and pelvic exams
- Breast exams
- Diagnosis and treatment of vaginal infections
- HPV vaccinations
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Sexual & Reproductive Health
Heartland Community Health Center offers comprehensive sexual and reproductive health care, including testing, treatment, and support services.
Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)
The CDC estimates that 1 in 5 people in the U.S. have an STI at any given time. Many STIs go undiagnosed, and common infections like HPV and genital herpes often aren’t reported at all. Reported cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis are just the tip of the iceberg.
Heartland offers screening and treatment for all STIs in a safe, judgment-free environment.
We also treat other common infections and conditions:
Bacterial Vaginosis (BV): A common vaginal condition that can increase the risk of STIs and lead to complications like pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID): A serious infection of the reproductive organs that can cause infertility, chronic pelvic pain, and ectopic pregnancy—sometimes without symptoms.
We help prevent and detect cancer through HPV vaccines, Pap smears, and breast exams, with referrals for imaging like mammograms when needed. HPV is the leading cause of cervical cancer and is linked to other cancers as well, making regular screening essential.
In addition to medical care, our team supports your overall well-being with:
Substance use treatment referrals
Domestic violence screenings
Nutrition counseling
Help with Medicaid or insurance enrollment
Improving sexual and reproductive health helps reduce health disparities and rates of infectious diseases, cancer, and infertility.
Pregnancy Prevention
When people are in control of their reproductive health, they are able to plan when, or if, they want to have children. For those interested in preventing pregnancy there are several different methods of contraception available. Patients can be prescribed a variety of types of birth control pills, the Depo-Provera injection, the patch, the ring, Nexplanon, or IUDs. Your health care provider will take a careful health history and work alongside the patient to determine which method is safe, appropriate, and affordable.
Birth control is a safe and effective way to prevent pregnancy. Some types of birth control can also help treat certain health problems or provide other health benefits. Available birth control options include:
- Hormonal birth control pills
- Injection (Depo-Provera)
- Intrauterine contraceptives
- Small plastic device implanted in the uterus that releases the synthetic hormone progestin to prevent sperm from reaching the cervix.
- Implants
- Thin, matchstick-sized plastic rod that’s implanted under the skin of your upper arm.
HIV Testing, Treatment, and Prevention
Heartland Community Health Center is the only clinic in Lawrence and Douglas County, Kansas, to offer point-of-care (rapid) HIV testing. Rapid tests are often referred to as point-of-care tests because rather than sending a blood sample to a laboratory, the test can be conducted and the result read in a doctor’s office or a community setting, without specialized laboratory equipment.
Most point-of-care tests require a tiny sample of blood (the fingertip is pricked with a lancet). They are called ‘rapid’ tests because the result can usually be given within a few minutes.
In addition to multiple testing options, Heartland can also prescribe PrEP medication. PrEP is a pill that reduces the risk of getting HIV when taken as prescribed. Fewer than 25% of the approximately 1 million Americans who could benefit from PrEP are using this preventative medication.
Pre-exposure prophylaxis (or PrEP) is medicine taken to prevent getting HIV. PrEP is highly effective for preventing HIV when taken as prescribed.
- PrEP reduces the risk of getting HIV from sex by about 99%.
- PrEP reduces the risk of getting HIV from injection drug use by at least 74%.
Heartland provides integrated health care for persons living with HIV infection and participates in the Ryan White Program. The Ryan White program helps Kansans with HIV who have a family income at or below 400% of federal poverty guidelines access important health services. These services include primary medical care, medication assistance, health insurance assistance, mental health counseling, substance use treatment, dental care, case management, and other HIV-related medical and support services.
Heartland can also provide all these services on a sliding scale to those who do not qualify for the Ryan White program. All patients, regardless of income or insurance status, have access to the resources needed to monitor and treat infection, in order to achieve the highest quality of life possible.
Jill Burgen
APRN, Family Planning Provider
"I am really passionate about increasing access to care for all people, promoting wellness, and increasing health literacy and confidence."
What is Title X?
Title X was created to provide affordable birth control and reproductive health care to people who couldn’t otherwise afford these services on their own.
New and existing patients can receive Family Planning care at Heartland now using our Title X sliding-fee scale.
Heartland is here for all your reproductive health needs with a dedicated Family Planning provider and same-day access to care.
Note that effective July 2026, Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health will assume responsibility for the Title X Family Planning Grant. This transition reflects a shared commitment to improving access to comprehensive reproductive health services for all residents of Douglas County. Heartland has successfully managed the Title X grant over the past three years and will continue to offer family planning services through its designation as a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC).
After July 2026, patients can still access all Heartland’s family planning services using this sliding-fee scale.
Welcoming All Who Need Care
Sexual and reproductive health is intrinsic to overall health. It’s more than preventing pregnancy, STIs, and cancers, it’s also safety from discrimination, violence, and poverty. All people need access to accurate information and comprehensive health services including contraception, counseling, testing/treatment.
Regularly seeing a health care provider and having open and honest conversations about sexual and reproductive wellness can save lives and improve the health of our community.
How Heartland Helps:
- Medicaid & Insurance Eligibility Assistance/Counseling
- Domestic violence and substance use disorder help from licensed social workers and behavioral health consultants
- Mental health services
- Sliding-Fee Scale options for people who are uninsured or unable to afford services
- Early Detection Works Program for free Pap Smears and Mammograms
- HPV-associated cancer prevention with Pap Smears and Gardasil vaccines
- STI and HIV testing with free options for those who qualify
- Diagnosis and treatment of vaginal and penile infections
- Prescribing and filling affordable or free birth control medications quickly, in-house at River City Pharmacy