Ask Pat

To receive a Depo injection at Hartshorn you will need a recent pap smear (recent is within 12 months). If you have had a pap smear at another clinic, you do not need to have it repeated, but we will ask that you have the pap results sent to our clinic. If this is the case, medical records at Hartshorn can help you get the results sent here. If this is your first Depo shot you will need to be on your period. However, if you have had previous injections, we will need written documentation of when you received your last shot. The cost of Depo is $50 per injection and pap smears are $14. If you are interested, you can make an appointment by calling the Women's clinic at 491-1754.

Hartshorn Health Services does offer emergency contraceptive pills, which can be taken up to 72 hours after unprotected sexual intercourse. They are meant for emergency protection in case other contraceptive methods fail, but are not as effective as other forms of birth control. However, the earlier the pills are taken, the more effective they are. Emergency contraceptive pills work by preventing or delaying ovulation, or preventing fertilization of an egg after ovulation, or preventing implantation of a fertilized egg into the uterus, depending on which stage you might be at. However, it is different than the abortion pill RU-486, because it does not interrupt a pregnancy after implantation has already taken place. If you are interested in emergency contraceptive pills, please call the Hartshorn Health Services Women's Clinic at (970) 491-1754. You will be required to take a pregnancy test to rule out a pre-existing pregnancy, and then you will be able to get the pills from a provider. The pregnancy test is $15 and the Emergency Contraceptive Pills are $10.

Yes, you do have to have a prescription to get oral contraceptives (i.e., the "pill"). Before you can get a prescription you will need to get an annual exam, which is approximately $28 for CSU students. Once you have a prescription, birth control pills are available at our pharmacy for approximately $20/month. There are also many other methods of birth control available besides the pill. During the exam, you can discuss with your health care provider as to what forms of birth control will best suit you. For more information or to make an appointment you can call the Women's Clinic at 491-1754.

Birth control medication is available at Hartshorn Health Services, but is NOT covered by student health insurance. Birth control pills are available at our pharmacy for approximately $15/month. There are other methods of birth control available besides the pill. However, an annual exam is necessary before you can begin any form of birth control medication. During the exam, you can discuss with your health care provider as to what forms of birth control will best suit you. If you would like to make an appointment to talk to a provider, please call the Women's Clinic at (970) 491-1754.

Hartshorn Health Service offers diagnosis of pregnancy, information about early health care of yourself until you are able to see a provider for prenatal care, and counseling regarding pregnancy choices and options. We have information available about providers in the community with whom you can receive any type of care that you would need with regard to a pregnancy, including a prenatal packet for those who are interested in keeping that pregnancy, and information about adoption or abortion elsewhere in the community. The University Health Service does not provide any ongoing care for pregnancy. You can call the Women's Clinic at 491-1754 if you are interested in any of these services.

Thanks for asking! CSU does have a dental clinic that serves the students (and spouses) at Hartshorn Health Service. A dental examination usually includes four x-rays (but may not if you have recent, readable x-rays from your previous dentist). It generally costs between $20 and $50, depending on whether or not we need additional x-rays for more information. (If you have a panoramic x-ray which shows the "bad wisdom tooth" that would save you time and money). We do not do complex or difficult surgery, but can do simple extractions. If this is one which qualifies, it would probably cost between $60 and $80. (Note: we cannot "put you to sleep" for the surgery...it would be done here using local anesthetic, possibly combined with nitrous oxide/oxygen conscious sedation, or "laughing gas". Nitrous is a small additional charge of ~$25.)

First of all, we do not schedule a cleaning with a patient whom we have not seen. We schedule an initial examination appointment to check your overall dental condition. (The exam costs $20 and takes about 30 minutes...if you do not have current x-rays from your dentist, the x-rays would be an additional charge.) After we've done the exam, we schedule you with one of our dental hygienists. Pat will have to give you a range as to the cost for the cleaning because the cost depends on how difficult the cleaning will be. Usually, we will be able to determine how complex the cleaning will be during the exam appointment. If you have been having regular cleanings with another dentist, the cleaning USUALLY costs $40. If you have a lot of hard deposits on your teeth or your gums are very tender or swollen, it will take longer--perhaps even a second appointment. If this is the case, it could cost $50 or $60. If you are interested in getting your teeth cleaned at Hartshorn, the direct line to the dental clinic is 491-1710. Good luck!

Your reference to "smoking addicts" is very appropriate since tobacco nicotine, more specifically is extremely addictive. Cigarette smoke contains 4000 compounds with 43 known carcinogens. Cigarette smoking is responsible for one of every five deaths per year in the United States (total number is approximately 435,000 deaths per year in the U.S.). Your concern for your boyfriend is valid. Pat would strongly encourage you to support him to quit, sooner rather than later. Quitting is very difficult because nicotine dependence is severe. However, it is also treatable, and most smokers want to stop. Treatment includes behavioral treatment, addictive disorder treatment, pharmacological treatment and relapse prevention. Hartshorn Health Service offers full tobacco cessation programs with access to nicotine replacement therapy, behavior change models, pharmacological access and ongoing support. Your boyfriend ought to call for an appointment to quit as soon as possible. He can call Hartshorn Health Service at 491-1723 to make an appointment to discuss his options.

You need to check with VA to see if the cost would be covered. Most likely you will need to go to a place that VA recommends. In the fall when your wife is a full-fee paying student, the price will be $20 for the first initial visit and $10 for follow up visits. Any other procedures, such as an Ultrasound will have additional charges.

Yes, we do! The rabies shots are a series of three intramuscular (IM) injections. Someone taking these shots will receive the first one, wait a week and then get the second shot, and then the third shot will be administered three weeks to a month later. If you are interested in getting these shots, you can call Hartshorn at 491-7121.

Penises range in size. There is no standard for penis size in relation to age. If you are sexually active you should talk with your partner about what pleasures her. Size isn't always everything—be comfortable with what you have.

This is a hard question to answer without seeing the bumps and talking with you about your history. They could be from shaving but, it would be best if saw a health professional.

It is very hard to diagnose pregnancy via email. If you believe that you might be pregnant, please call or see a health provider. Pat will no longer be answering pregnancy questions that describe dates of sexual acts and dates of periods. It is not possible to tell whether or not a woman is pregnant by simple written description. Again, please see a health provider if you believe you might be pregnant.

It is very unlikely that you are pregnant, but when ever sperm (cum) is exposed to an egg (in the woman) there is a possibility of pregnancy.

No, you cannot get pregnant from swallowing sperm (cum). The only way to get pregnant is if a sperm and egg meet inside a woman through vaginal sex or penetration to the vagina with sperm. You cannot get pregnant from swallowing sperm because there are many barriers between where an egg is released and your digestive tract (where the sperm goes if you swallow it).