Sexual Health

Gynecologic Visits

Current recommendations for pap smears:

• Start at age 21 or when sexually active
• Repeat every 3 years if results are normal
• Abnormal results may result in referral to a gynecologist for closer monitoring
  

What to Expect

Gynecological exams include:

• History taking to assess for risk factors
• Pelvic exam and pap smear
• Possible laboratory testing including genital culture, blood tests, STI testing
• Birth control planning
• Results of any test done should be obtained within a week and will be sent to you via Secure Message on the Student Health Portal.
• A follow-up visit to discuss results is recommended. Students with abnormal results will be asked to return to the clinic to discuss results with a clinician and ob/gyn referrals will be made as needed.
• If results are normal, we can also provide birth control options. Please click the drop-down below to view options.

Free condoms, dental dams, and lubricants are available at the following locations:

• Student Health Services - in the hallway near the check-in computer kiosk
• RAs and health advocates in each house

Please only take what you need. Barrier contraception is also available for purchase at Red Door, at your local pharmacy, and online. Always double-check the expiration date!

Health Services provides the following contraception prescriptions to students:

• Oral contraception (birth control pills)
• Vaginal ring (NuvaRing) and hormonal patch
• Birth control injection (Depo-Provera)
• Implantable hormonal birth control (Nexplanon)
• Intrauterine device (Mirena, copper)

Prior to prescription, we recommend a recent Pap smear, if you need one, we can provide one.

Prior to implantable or intrauterine birth control, we require a recent Pap smear. If you need one, we can provide one.

Set aside up to an hour for an initial contraception consultation visit. During that time, we provide a:

• Physical exam
• Review of personal and family history
• Lab orders as needed
• Contraception option education

Our goal is to recommend the type of birth control that is safest and most effective for you.

At the end of the consultation visit, we can provide you with a prescription. Most pharmacies have most oral contraceptive pills readily available, but most implantables and IUDs must be ordered by the pharmacy, so remember to plan for up to a month to receive them.

Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), all contraceptive methods are covered under your Anthem Student Advantage (ASA) or other insurance plan.

Additional Resources about Contraception:

• Planned Parenthood - Birth Control

Emergency contraception is available in the vending machine on the second floor of the Hameetman Center. Please check the expiry date!

You can also purchase emergency contraception at your local pharmacy, Planned Parenthood, or online.

Per the FDA, any person of any age can purchase one-pill EC products containing one 1.5 mg levonorgestrel pill (brand and generics), without needing to show ID.

Learn more about the different types of emergency contraception and which one to use.

Student Health Services is dedicated to providing judgment-free care, you can schedule an:

• Urgent phone appointment for a prescription from a local pharmacy
• Urgent clinic appointment for:
  • General assessment
  • Medication education about emergency contraception
  • Provision of emergency contraception
  • Monitoring for side effects

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General Information

Student Wellness Services offers testing for sexually transmitted infections (STIs):

• Phone appointment to order routine labs
• Clinic appointment with a provider for a physical exam, labs, and medication as needed

Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) Tests Available:

• Chlamydia / Gonorrhea
  • Avoid urinating for at least one hour prior to having the test to provide a "first catch" urine sample
• HIV (blood test)
• Syphilis (blood test)
• Additional tests can be ordered based on symptoms and history
  • Herpes Simplex Virus 1 and 2 (blood test, occasionally swab test)
  • Hepatitis B and C (blood test)
  • Human Papillomavirus, HPV (for women, completed during pap smear)
  • Genital warts (clinical evaluation done at health services)

More Information on STI's:

• Centers for Disease Control / Sexually Transmitted Disease Information

All health services visits and records are confidential.
If there are any positive findings that require treatment, a provider will secure message you through the health portal.

The following locations also provide free or low-cost STI testing and treatment:

• Planned Parenthood Pasadena
• Planned Parenthood Alhambra
• Planned Parenthood Highland Park
• Planned Parenthood Glendora
• Planned Parenthood Baldwin Park

Human Papillomavirus (HPV 9) / Gardasil Vaccine

HPV 9 (commonly known as Gardasil 9) is a preventative vaccine available to adolescents and young adults from ages 9 to 26.
Gardasil 9 protects against HPV, genital warts, and cervical cancer.

I want to get vaccinated! Now what?

1. No prescription is needed. Call Rite Aid on 1038 E Colorado Blvd. (626-796-5539) or Walgreens Pharmacy on 310 S Lake Ave. (626-583-8066) to confirm the availability of the vaccine and coverage of the vaccine by your insurance.
2. Once both things are confirmed, go get the vaccine administered!

• Have the following readily on hand: a copy of your insurance card and a picture ID
• REMEMBER: Ask for a vaccine administration document for the health center

Read more about the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccine on the CDC HPV vaccine information page.

Caltech has no tolerance for:

• Sexual assault
• Harassment
• Exploitation
• Stalking
• Intimate partner violence
• Gender identity discrimination

You are legally protected from any of these abusive behaviors by Title IX.

If any of these abusive behaviors occur in connection with Caltech academic, athletic, extracurricular, or Institute programs, regardless of the location, please report it!

Student Wellness Services partners with the Title IX coordinator Hima Vatti to protect you.

Student Health Services can provide:

• Sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing
• Gynecological exams
• Referrals to rape/abuse clinics
• Referrals to campus resources including counseling services, Caltech Center for Inclusion & Diversity, and Title IX.

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 is a comprehensive federal law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in federally-funded education programs or activities.

At the California Institute of Technology, we take compliance with Title IX seriously and we are committed to providing an environment free from discrimination, including discrimination on the basis of sex.

The following are examples of types of sex-based discrimination that are prohibited by Title IX:

• Sexual harassment, assault, and violence regardless of location
• Failure to provide equitable opportunity for a student or employee based on sex
• Lack of athletic opportunities for women
• Discrimination on the basis of gender, gender expression, and gender identity

The Title IX coordinator is Hima Vatti. All students can access her to discuss a Title IX concern, seek information or support around a Title IX issue, or file Title IX complaints with the Institute.

For an appointment with the Title IX coordinator, please email TitleIXCoordinator@caltech.edu or call (626) 395-3132.

Additional information can be found on the Title IX website.