LIST: LGBTQ-friendly clinics that provide sexual health tests
Pride Month is many things: a celebration, a protest, and also a time to draw attention to the challenges that many LGBTQ+ individuals face.
This includes access to gender affirming care, which entails services like HIV testing, hormone therapy, counseling, and other types of support.
Filipinos in the LGBTQ+ community don't just need access to these services but also safe spaces where they can go in free of judgment. Here are some health institutions in the Philippines that can help out:
Pulse Clinic
Pulse Clinic describes itself as a lifestyle clinic open to everyone. The clinic offers confidential HIV testing, STI screening, treatment services, preventive care, and gender-affirming healthcare. Patients can seek medical advice in a setting designed to be discreet and nonjudgmental.
They offer HIV, PrEP, and PEP management that ranges from P1,200 to P12,000. Primary and sexual health consultations are available for P1,000 if clinical and P1,200 if via teleconference. Hormone and weight loss management is priced at P2,000.
The clinic has locations in Manila and Angeles City, Clark. Their Manila clinic is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday to Sunday. Check their website for more details.
Hara Clinic
With the tagline "Healthcare without judgment. Answers without shame," Hara Clinic focuses on inclusive and accessible care. The clinic provides sexual health consultations, STI services, and gender-affirming healthcare support.
They offer gender-affirming therapy for trans, non-binary, and gender-diverse patients using an informed-consent model, allowing patients to begin care without lengthy gatekeeping requirements. Standard consultation starts at P1,500, which includes a full sit-down session with a clinician.
It is located at 2F JNCV Bldg, Pasig Blvd, Pasig City. You may go to their website to book a consultation.
LoveYourself
LoveYourself is a network of seven community centers strong across Luzon and Visayas. It provides HIV testing, counseling, and various sexual health services. Most of their hubs and clinics offer HIV-related services free of charge. It takes pride in having staff who are warm, friendly, and non-discriminatory.
Through their SelfCare program, clients can access self-screening kits that include a single-use lancet, an alcohol swab, and instructional materials delivered to their homes. The organization also offers premium services for individuals seeking more private consultations and guidance.
Go to their website for the complete list and schedule of their community centers
AIDS Healthcare Foundation Philippines
AHF Philippines combines healthcare delivery with advocacy efforts to expand access to sexual health services.
Its wellness centers offer free HIV rapid testing, self-care, syphilis, and hepatitis screening tests, free condoms, safe sex counseling, and trans health and adolescent sexual health services. Treatment for sexually transmitted infections, including syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, and hepatitis B, is also available.
Their main office is at Anglo Building, 15-A Shaw Blvd, Mandaluyong. They are open every Wednesday to Sunday: 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. They also have wellness centers in North Caloocan, Cebu, and Manila
The Medical City's Center for Gender Health and Wellness
The Medical City's Center for Gender Health and Wellness was launched in 2020 to address the healthcare needs of LGBTQ individuals through a multidisciplinary approach. It is located at the Wellness and Aesthetics Institute of The Medical City, providing a safe and nondiscriminatory space.
According to their website, the center "is designed to provide holistic, gender-sensitive, and inclusive health care to LGBTQIA+ persons to maximize their overall health, psychological well-being, and self-fulfillment." They have specialists from endocrinology, psychiatry, obstetrics and gynecology, and urology who offer services in sexual and transgender wellness. They also provide counseling, risk assessment, and gender-affirming surgeries.
As of 2020, they offer a sexual Wellness package which includes counseling, testing, and treatment for common sexually transmitted infections like HIV/AIDS, syphilis, chlamydia, and gonorrhea. Transgender packages have counseling for gender-affirming therapy, testing, monitoring, and hormonal treatment.
It is located at the 6F Wellness and Aesthetics Institute, Podium Building, The Medical City Ortigas.