Health Center: Bring on the birds and the bees

By: Kimberly Tsao

Posted: 5/13/09

Angelina Espino, a junior social work major, said she's drawing the line: She isn't having any more children. "My birth control is my daughter," Espino said. She was pregnant with her child, Marissa, while she was attending De Anza College in 2005.

For those who don't want children anytime soon, Melinda Chu-Yang, wellness and health promotion coordinator, said each student can get four male condoms, one female condom and one dental dam for free, every day at the Student Health Center. The center also offers the Depo-provera shot and different versions of "the pill," at cost for students, she said.

The pill is $5 to $15 a month, and a shot is $45 a month, Chu-Yang said. For a ring or a patch, she said the center writes prescriptions and the price depends on the pharmacy. For students who are interested, she said she provides birth control counseling, which lasts about 30 minutes. Students can make an appointment with her and she said they'll be seen within a week.

The Health Center also provides free pregnancy counseling, Chu-Yang said. Then, the student can meet with a doctor, who talks about some of the options they have.

"The clinicians can help them find where the clinics are, at least know where they are, but they don't have enough time to show them exactly how to get there and set up the taxi ride for them and whatnot," she said.

While Chu-Yang said the center employs about eight doctors, three nurse practitioners and trauma and sports medicine specialists, it doesn't have an obstetrician gynecologist. The center may refer students to Planned Parenthood or the Community Pregnancy Center, she said.

"Our facility isn't prepped enough to have a birthing unit - and we don't do abortions on campus - so none of those are available on campus, 'cause we do mainly primary care services here," she said.

The services are free because students pay about $75 every semester, Chu-Yang said. If there's an emergency or a need for surgery, students can purchase health insurance under A.S.

The center even makes presentations for fraternities, sororities and residence halls - handing out information on birth control and sexual health. It does the same for spring break, World AIDS Day and Valentine's Day, which happens on National Condom Week, she said.