A pap test, or pap smear, are common names for a Papanicolaou test, which identifies potential cervical cancer, according to the American Cancer Society. Planned Parenthood recommends that people with cervixes start getting tested once they are 21. Planned Parenthood also explains that if you are aged 21-24, you can start to get routine pap tests every three years, or wait until you are 25 to begin getting tested, after which it is recommended to get tested every five years.
According to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, 81 percent of women and 43 percent of men have experienced a form of sexual assault or harassment in their lifetime. For female rape victims, a majority of incidences were perpetrated by an intimate partner. Consent has unique legal definitions that vary in different places and contexts, but in general refers to an agreement between people to engage in sexual activities, according to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network.
The Nobel Committee for Physiology or Medicine elected to award the 2010 prize to Robert G. Edwards, Ph. D. In conjunction with Patrick Steptoe M. D., Edwards developed the process of human in vitro fertilization. The Nobel Committee estimates that infertility, a condition in which abnormalities occurring in both the male and female reproductive systems cause difficulty with conception, impacts upwards of one-tenth of the global population. Edwards and Steptoe recognized this reality roughly half a century ago and set about discovering the practice that, in 1978, allowed the duo to successfully make human life from a Petri dish, implant said embryo in a uterus, and guide their patient through a nine-month gestation period that culminated in the birth of the first test tube baby: Louise Brown.
According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, the endometrium is the layer of tissue inside the uterus. The endometrium grows during each menstrual cycle to prepare for a fertilized egg. If no eggs are fertilized during the menstrual cycle, the endometrium is shed during what is commonly known as a period, according to Cleveland Clinic.
Graphic by Sunny Wei ‘23.
By Catelyn Fitzgerald ’23
Science and Environment Editor
Sexually transmitted infections are infections passed from one person to another during sexual activity, according to Planned Parenthood. STIs are common and often occur without symptoms, but can cause serious health problems if left untreated. For each STI, corresponding symptoms, testing and treatment vary. Some common STIs include:
Chlamydia: Chlamydia is one of the most common STIs and most people who contract it show no symptoms. According to Planned Parenthood, “Chlamydia can infect the penis, vagina, cervix, anus, urethra, eyes and throat.” When symptoms do occur, they may take several weeks to appear following the start of the infection. Symptoms include pain while urinating or during sex, abnormal discharge and spotting between periods, Planned Parenthood explained. If left untreated, chlamydia can spread to the uterus and fallopian tubes and eventually cause pelvic inflammatory disease.
Human Papillomavirus: HPV is a very common STI and can often go away on its own. Planned Parenthood reports that “most people who have sex get HPV at some point in their lives.” While often harmless, certain types of HPV can create serious health problems, such as cervical cancer, if left untreated. HPV can infect the genitals, mouth and throat. “High-risk” types of HPV have no symptoms, making regular testing important, according to Planned Parenthood.
Syphilis: Syphilis is an STI that occurs in four stages if left untreated, an article from the Center for Disease Control stated. Symptoms of the primary stage include sores on the genitals or mouth. During the secondary stage, rashes around the genitals and mouth may appear during or following the healing process of the initial sores, the article said. After the secondary stage, the infection remains in the body with no symptoms. According to the CDC, most people do not experience the final, or tertiary, stage of syphilis, which occurs anywhere from 10 to 30 years following the time of infection and can lead to serious health problems.
Gonorrhea: Gonorrhea is a common STI among people between the ages of 15 and 24, the CDC reported. The infection can affect the genitals, rectum and throat. Gonorrhea usually does not have symptoms, and when people do experience symptoms they tend to be mild and easy to mistake for other infections, the CDC said. Gonorrhea can be treated with medication once diagnosed, but if left untreated can lead to the development of pelvic inflammatory disease among other complications, according to the CDC.
Getting tested regularly is crucial for spotting STIs before they develop into serious conditions, the CDC said. According to the Mount Holyoke College website, testing is available for students at the Health Center.
Graphic by Sunny Wei ‘23.
By Catelyn Fitzgerald ’23
Science and Environment Editor
According to an article from Planned Parenthood, STIs are “infections that are passed from one person to another during sexual activity.” The use of a barrier — such as a condom or dental dam — is “one of the best ways” to avoid contracting an STI, the article said. This is because they prevent genital skin-to-skin contact as well as the exchange of sexual fluids. Most STIs do not cause any symptoms, so getting tested regularly is an important way to prevent their spread, Planned Parenthood explained. The type of testing used varies depending on the STI but can include a urine test, physical exam or swab. Some tests will produce instant results, while others take between days and weeks.
STI testing is available at Mount Holyoke Health Services and is covered by the Student Health Insurance Plan, according to Dr. Cheryl Flynn of the Health Center. Students with their own private health insurance and the “prepaid plan” can also receive testing free of cost. Health Services offers STI screening for students based on “their sexual behaviors and the risk of infections associated with those,” as well as diagnostic testing for students experiencing symptoms of an STI, Flynn explained. Most tests cost between $20 and $50, with the exception of the Hepatitis B antibody test (around $65), Hepatitis C test (around $68) and the Herpes Simplex I and II test (around $330).
Those without the student health insurance plan will have the cost of the tests added to their Student Bill. Charges are noted as “health center charges” on the Student Bill, with no further details about the visit, Flynn said. Students are informed of their results, positive or negative, through My Health Connection. Health Services also offers STI treatment, typically consisting of antibiotics or antiviral medications which are often available on-site. According to Flynn, for treatments that the health center does not carry, such as HIV and Hepatitis C, patients are referred to a specialist.
Abortion pills are sold in retail pharmacies. Photo courtesy of Project Manhattan via Wikimedia Commons.
By Shira Sadeh ’25
Science & Environment Editor
On Jan. 3, the Food and Drug Administration announced a change in rules that will greatly increase the number of retail pharmacies that dispense abortion medication, AP News reported. According to the AP article, this change is an effort to make abortion more accessible, allowing those seeking abortion medication to receive a consultation via telehealth before picking up the prescription at a local retail pharmacy, provided that the pharmacy undergoes a certification process.
According to Planned Parenthood, abortion medication consists of two pills: mifepristone and misoprostol. The first, mifepristone, prevents the pregnancy from developing further and may cause side effects of nausea or bleeding, although Planned Parenthood states that bleeding is uncommon at this stage of the abortion. The second pill, misoprostol, is taken either immediately after or up to 48 hours following the first pill. This pill empties the uterus and causes heavy bleeding and cramping. “It’s normal to see large blood clots (up to the size of a lemon) or clumps of tissue when this is happening. It’s kind of like having a really heavy, crampy period, and the process is very similar to an early miscarriage,” Planned Parenthood explained. The page went on to say that these side effects typically begin one to four hours after taking misoprostol. The bleeding typically lasts four to five hours, and cramping can continue for up to two days.
According to an article from the Guttmacher Institute, the FDA approved the use of mifepristone for the purpose of non-surgical abortion in 2000. Although it is currently approved to be used up to ten weeks of gestation, it has been used safely to terminate later-stage pregnancies. The article went on to explain that while several states have restrictions on its usage, courts have ruled that banning abortion medication “outright” is unconstitutional.
The closest Planned Parenthood center that offers abortion services is the Western Massachusetts Health Center in Springfield, MA. As of July 22, Mount Holyoke College Health Services stated that they offer counseling and referrals to students, but are unable to offer abortion medication themselves.
