By Devin Hammond
Trinity Times Correspondent

Access to reproductive health care for women remains a hot-button and highly debated topic across the United States, where stigma and limited information often serve as barriers to care.

A 2025 study by the U.S. Government Accountability Office found that awareness — not just availability — poses a major challenge on college campuses.

The agency examined 15 colleges and found that at 11 of them, students had only limited awareness of sexual and reproductive health services offered on campus. At one college, a representative said students typically did not seek out services until after they were already pregnant.

This can be an issue even at Trinity, said Angela Anderson, director of the Health and Wellness Center at Trinity Washington University.

Reyna Medina-Gomez, a first-year student at Trinity, said underlying stigma may contribute to the hesitancy some women feel in seeking out reproductive services.

“Some topics around reproductive health can feel uncomfortable or avoided because of religious beliefs, which can make students hesitant to speak up or seek help, even when they really need it, Medina-Gomez said.”

Many women are not comfortable starting or participating in conversations about their bodies, and some view such discussions as shameful or something to be kept private, Anderson said.

“The first step to improving access to reproductive health care is getting comfortable with what we have and who we are,” she said.

Anderson added that increasing awareness of the Health and Wellness Center’s services could help students feel more comfortable seeking care.

Edith Mendoza-Solano, a Trinity sophomore, said adequate reproductive health care also means access to needed services without financial barriers.

She said reproductive health is not widely discussed among students, though she is aware of the services offered by Trinity, which are described in detail on the university’s website.

Asked whether Trinity makes reproductive health care accessible, Mendoza-Solano said, “Yes, sometimes they do events that talk about what services are provided and how they can help students, but no, because not a lot of students know about the types of health services that they offer here at Trinity.”

Anderson said increasing visibility is a priority for the center, which is located on the 4th floor of Main Hall. Because most classes and campus activities take place on lower levels, she said the center can be easy to miss.

Anderson, who also works as a nurse practitioner, said she plans to hold events and collaborate with other departments at Trinity that focus on health to raise awareness about the center. 

“I just have to do a better job of making sure that the students know that we’re here,” she said.