Below, we have compiled a list of free and lower cost sexual health supplies for those living in the Boston area.
Free Sexual Health Supplies
This list was last updated in October 2021.
| Location | Address | Types of Supplies | Notes |
| Northeastern UHCS | Forsyth Building, 1st Floor, 70 Forsyth Street, Boston, MA 02115 | External condoms | Supplies in the waiting room |
| GLASS | 75 Amory Street, Garden Level, Boston, MA 02119 | Safer sex kits | Offers free safer sex kits for walk-ins. LGBTQ+ friendly |
| Greater Boston Health Clinic – Planned Parenthood | 1055 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA 02215 | External condoms | Most health clinics offer 12 free condoms to walk ins |
| Whittier Street Health Center | 1290 Tremont St, 3rd Floor Family Medicine Green, Boston, MA, 02120 | External condoms | Walk-in clinic open 8:30am-4:45pm |
| Fenway Health | Ansin Building,1340 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02215 | External condoms | May need to get STD tested to receive free health supplies. Testing available for men who have sex with men and transgender individuals |
Places to Buy Sexual Health Supplies
This list was last updated in October 2021.
| Location | Supplies Available | Price Range | Notes/Location |
| CVS Pharmacy | External condoms, Lube | Prices ranging from $0.50-$2 per condom | Many locations around Boston; 231 Mass Ave is closest to campus |
| Walgreens | External condoms, Lube | $0.50-$2 per condom | Many locations around Boston |
| Target | External condoms, Lube | $0.50-$2 per condom | Fenway location closest to campus |
| Good Vibrations in Brookline | External condoms, Lube | $1-$4 per condom | Free shipping on orders over $69 |
| Amazon | External condoms, Lube, Oral dams | $0.30-$1.50 per condom | |
| Wollaston’s | External condoms | Prices vary; visit store for options | Two locations on campus; Marino and West Village B |
For more information on barrier methods, proper use, and instructions, please see our page on Using Protection/Barrier Methods.
Internal Condoms
Internal condoms, sometimes called “female” or FC2 condoms, consist of a nitrile sheath and outer ring and a polyurethane inner ring. They protect against STIs when inserting body parts or sex toys vaginally or anally and are latex-free. The end of the internal condom with an inner ring goes into the vagina/anus to keep it in place and the outer ring remains outside the vagina/anus. Some people may opt to remove the inner ring if inserting the condom anally. It is important not to remove the inner ring if inserting the condom vaginally.
Internal condoms work the same way external condoms do. Internal condoms can actually provide more protection against STIs by covering a greater surface area of skin outside the vagina or anus than external condoms do. You can insert an internal condom up to 8 hours prior to sex. Some people find internal condoms are less restrictive on a penis than external condoms.
Currently, most provider offices and stores are not offering internal/female condoms in stores without a prescription. If you are interested in purchasing internal condoms or getting a prescription, please see the FC2 website for more information. Most insurance companies will cover the cost of condoms when prescribed by a physician.
If you are interested in this specifically, please contact open@northeastern.edu. We are happy to supply this for interested students due to difficulty in purchasing them.
Converting External Condoms into Oral Dams
Most provider offices and stores are not offering dental dams. However, it is possible to make an oral dam from an external condom. You can convert an external condom into a dam by carefully cutting off the tip of the condom and along the length of the condom. See instructions and videos below for more guidance.
