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STD Clinics in Chicago: Public Health, Planned Parenthood and Community Options Compared

Updated · Sources are cited in the text

STD Clinics in Chicago: Public Health, Planned Parenthood and Community Options Compared

This page is general health information, not medical advice. It cannot tell you whether you have an infection. A clinician can, and the testing options on this site are a good place to start.

Chicago has several kinds of STD clinic, and they work differently. Some take walk-ins. Some ask you to book. Some publish a sliding fee, and some do not publish a price at all.

This guide compares four types of option: the city health department clinics, the Cook County Health walk-in clinic, community health centers such as Howard Brown Health, and Planned Parenthood of Illinois. It sticks to what each organization publishes, and it says plainly where a detail is not listed.

No option here is ranked as the best for everyone. The right one depends on your schedule, your insurance, your age and what you want to be tested for.

Why the choice of clinic matters in Chicago

Sexually transmitted infections are common in the city. The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) reports a 2022 chlamydia rate of 1,023.7 per 100,000 people for the City of Chicago, or 27,596 cases. For gonorrhea, IDPH reports 459.3 per 100,000, or 12,382 cases.

For comparison, CDC's 2023 surveillance tables put the statewide Illinois chlamydia rate at 557.7 per 100,000 and the gonorrhea rate at 202.3 per 100,000. These come from different years, so they are not a like-for-like comparison. They do show why routine testing is part of regular health care here.

Many infections cause no symptoms, which is why the CDC STI Treatment Guidelines (2021) recommend screening based on age, sex, sexual practices and other factors. A clinician can tell you which tests fit your situation. The best STD clinic for you is one you will actually get to.

The options at a glance

The table summarizes what each organization publishes. Clinic hours and services change, so confirm by phone before you go.

AttributeCDPH Sexual Health Specialty ClinicsCook County Health (CORE Center)Howard Brown HealthPlanned Parenthood of Illinois (Rogers Park)
OperatorChicago Department of Public HealthCook County HealthNonprofit community health centerPlanned Parenthood of Illinois
STD and HIV testingYesYes, including rapid HIV and hepatitis C testing per CDC GetTestedYes, including rapid HIV, syphilis, chlamydia, gonorrhea and hepatitis testingYes, including rapid HIV per CDC GetTested
Treatment on siteListedNot stated on the sources reviewedListedNot stated on the CDC GetTested listing
PrEPYes, by appointmentPrEP navigation per CDC GetTestedYes, plus PEPNot listed on CDC GetTested
Walk-inCall for an appointment; limited walk-insWalk-ins welcomeNo appointment necessary, first come, first servedAppointment required per CDC GetTested
Cost informationCare regardless of ability to pay or insurance; the page does not say the visit is freeSliding scale, insurance, Medicaid and Medicare accepted per CDC GetTestedSliding Fee Discount Program based on income and family sizeInsurance and Medicaid accepted; self-pay or sliding scale not stated
LanguagesNot published on the page reviewedNot published on the page reviewedNot published on the page reviewedNot published on the listing reviewed

Language support is not listed on the pages used for this comparison. If you need an interpreter or materials in another language, ask when you call.

Public health clinics: the health department option

The Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) runs Sexual Health Specialty Clinics. This is the main route for health department STD testing in the city. The department's sexual health services page lists three locations:

  • Lakeview North Clark Street Health Clinic, 2849 N. Clark St., 1st Fl., 312.744.5507
  • Austin West Division Street Health Hub, 4909 W. Division St., Suite 411, 312.746.4871
  • Roseland East 115th Street Health Hub, 200 E. 115th St., 1.5 fl., 312.747.1090

CDPH lists STD testing, HIV testing, PrEP and treatment at these clinics. The page says to call for an appointment and notes that limited walk-ins are available. The clinics close from 12 to 1 pm daily and on City holidays.

Hours differ by site. Lakeview lists Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, and Tuesday and Thursday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. Austin lists Tuesday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, and Wednesday and Friday from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. Roseland lists Monday and Friday from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, and Thursday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. CDPH asks you to call the clinic to verify hours.

Pros

  • Three neighborhood locations on the north, west and south sides.
  • Testing, PrEP and treatment are listed together at each site.
  • CDPH states that care is provided regardless of ability to pay or insurance status.

Cons

  • Appointments are the main route, and walk-ins are limited.
  • Weekday daytime hours only, with a midday closure.
  • The page does not say the visit is free. It asks insured patients to bring their insurance card, so ask about any charge when you book.

Cook County Health: the walk-in screening clinic

The Ruth M. Rothstein CORE Center, run by Cook County Health, is at 2020 W. Harrison St., Chicago, IL 60612. Cook County Health's HIV/AIDS program page describes a walk-in STI Screening Clinic under the heading "Walk-ins Welcome." It says to call Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 3:30 pm, at 312-572-4700, and that same-day HIV and STI services are provided. Appointments go through the Access Line at 312-572-4500.

The CDC GetTested listing for this site shows insurance, Medicaid and Medicare accepted, PrEP for people without insurance, and a sliding scale. It also lists rapid HIV testing, hepatitis C testing and the HPV vaccine.

The sources reviewed do not explicitly say whether treatment is provided at this site, so ask when you call.

Pros

  • Same-day walk-in screening is stated on the clinic's own page.
  • A published sliding scale and acceptance of public insurance.
  • Rapid HIV testing and hepatitis C testing are listed.

Cons

  • One location, on the Near West Side.
  • The walk-in line is staffed on weekdays only.
  • Treatment at this site is not clearly stated.

Community health centers: Howard Brown Health

Howard Brown Health is a nonprofit health center. Its sexual health walk-in clinic page lists three Chicago walk-in locations, all reachable at 773.388.1600:

  • Howard Brown Health Sheridan, 4025 N. Sheridan Rd., Chicago, IL 60613
  • Howard Brown Health 63rd St., 641 W. 63rd St., Chicago, IL 60621
  • Broadway Youth Center, 1023 W. Irving Park Road, Chicago, IL 60613

The walk-in page says no appointment is necessary and that patients are seen first come, first served. It lists HIV, rapid HIV, syphilis, chlamydia, gonorrhea, hepatitis A and B, and hepatitis C testing, plus treatment, PEP and PrEP.

Howard Brown describes the walk-in clinic as quick and low-cost. Its financial assistance page describes a Sliding Fee Discount Program based on income and family size.

Howard Brown also offers doxy-PEP, a prevention approach that CDC addressed in its 2024 guidance. It is offered by appointment, and the clinic does not list it as a walk-in service. A clinician decides whether it fits your situation and prescribes it.

The Broadway Youth Center is Howard Brown's youth site. The organization's site menu describes youth services for ages 12 to 24.

Pros

  • Walk-in access with no appointment at all three listed sites.
  • A wide menu: testing, treatment, PEP and PrEP in one visit.
  • A published sliding fee program.
  • A dedicated youth location.

Cons

  • First come, first served means waits are possible. The page does not publish wait times.
  • The sources reviewed do not list walk-in hours, so call before you go.
  • Doxy-PEP requires an appointment.

Planned Parenthood of Illinois

Planned Parenthood of Illinois is one more option. Its Rogers Park Health Center is at 5725 N Broadway, Chicago, IL 60660, phone (773) 942-7193. Other Planned Parenthood of Illinois centers exist in the Chicago area, but they were not verified for this comparison.

The CDC GetTested listing shows STD testing, HIV testing, rapid HIV testing and the HPV vaccine. It notes that insurance and Medicaid are accepted and that an appointment is required. It does not state a self-pay or sliding scale option. The listing also says hours may change, so verify with the organization.

The listing does not mention PrEP or treatment. That does not mean they are unavailable. It means this source does not say, so ask the center directly.

Pros

  • A familiar name for many people, with a neighborhood location on the far north side.
  • Rapid HIV testing and the HPV vaccine are listed.
  • Insurance and Medicaid are accepted.

Cons

  • An appointment is required, so there is no walk-in option on this listing.
  • No self-pay or sliding scale information on the listing reviewed.
  • PrEP and treatment are not listed, so you would confirm those by phone.

Best for: matching the clinic to your situation

You want to be seen today

Cook County Health's walk-in screening clinic and Howard Brown's three walk-in sites are the options that state walk-in access. Call first to confirm current hours. CDPH says limited walk-ins are available, but it directs people to call for an appointment.

You do not have insurance or are unsure what you can pay

Cook County Health and Howard Brown both publish sliding scale options. CDPH states care is provided regardless of ability to pay or insurance status. Ask any clinic what the visit will cost before you book.

You are interested in PrEP or doxy-PEP

CDPH, Howard Brown and the Cook County Health listing all mention PrEP in some form. Howard Brown lists doxy-PEP by appointment. Illinois also offers PrEP4Illinois, an IDPH medication assistance program. Its helpline is 1-833-773-7445, and it requires documentation of Illinois residency and proof of any insurance. IDPH also announced a statewide standing order in April 2025 that lets Illinoisans get PrEP directly from a trained pharmacist without a prior prescription.

You are 24 or younger

Broadway Youth Center is Howard Brown's youth site. Under the Illinois Consent by Minors to Health Care Services Act (410 ILCS 210/4), a minor 12 or older who may have come into contact with a sexually transmitted disease can consent to prevention, diagnosis or treatment services without parental consent. The statute says providers make reasonable efforts to involve the family if they believe it will not be harmful, and that each STD incident must be reported to public health.

You want testing and treatment in one place

CDPH and Howard Brown both list treatment among their services. Bacterial STIs and trichomoniasis are curable with treatment from a clinician. HIV, herpes and HPV are not curable, but they are treatable or manageable.

You prefer to book ahead

CDPH and Planned Parenthood of Illinois both work mainly by appointment. Booking can mean less waiting on the day, and it lets you ask about cost, hours and languages in advance.

You are pregnant

Illinois law (410 ILCS 320/1, the Prenatal Syphilis Act) requires syphilis testing at the first prenatal examination and again in the third trimester, between 27 and 32 weeks of gestation. The statute does not apply to a woman who objects on religious grounds. Your prenatal care provider can explain how this fits into your care.

What to know no matter where you go

Reporting

Under the Illinois Administrative Code (77 Ill. Adm. Code Part 693), HIV infection, syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia and chancroid are reportable in Illinois. Health care professionals report to the local health department, which in Chicago is CDPH, within seven days of diagnosis or treatment. This applies at every clinic, public or private.

Partner treatment

CDC's legal status page for Illinois says expedited partner therapy is permissible for chlamydia, gonorrhea and trichomoniasis, for partners exposed within the previous 60 days. Syphilis is not covered. A clinician can explain whether this applies to you.

HIV and the law

Illinois repealed its HIV-specific criminal transmission statute, 720 ILCS 5/12-5.01, through Public Act 102-168, effective July 27, 2021, according to the Illinois General Assembly.

Home testing for HIV

Erie Family Health Centers, a Chicago nonprofit health center, offers a free rapid HIV test kit by online request or by phone at 312-386-6344. It is for Illinois residents who are 17 or older, and it covers HIV only, not other STIs. No state or city mail-order program for free HIV or STI home tests was found in the sources reviewed.

Test timing

Different infections show up on tests at different times after exposure. CDC publishes timing guidance for each test, and a clinician can tell you when testing is most informative for your situation.

The verdict

No single clinic type wins on every measure. Here is how the comparison breaks down.

  • Most flexible access: Howard Brown's walk-in sites and the Cook County Health walk-in clinic both state that you can come without booking.
  • Broadest published service list: Howard Brown lists testing, treatment, PEP, PrEP and doxy-PEP, though doxy-PEP is by appointment.
  • Most neighborhood locations from one public provider: CDPH has north, west and south side clinics with testing, PrEP and treatment, though you will usually call ahead.
  • Most clearly stated cost help: Howard Brown and Cook County Health publish sliding scales. CDPH states care is provided regardless of ability to pay.
  • Least published detail: Planned Parenthood of Illinois requires an appointment, and the listing reviewed does not state self-pay options, PrEP or treatment.

If you want a simple starting point, call the clinic nearest you and ask four things: whether you need an appointment, what the visit costs, which tests are included and whether treatment is available there. Those answers will tell you more than any comparison can.

Next step: find free or low-cost testing

Our guide to STD testing in Chicago and what it costs lists local testing places in more detail. You can also use CDC's GetTested locator to find testing sites by ZIP code. For questions, the Illinois HIV/STD Hotline is 1-800-243-2437.

Sources