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2018 Ask Lucy

December 12, 2018

Dear Lucy: I have a boyfriend (finally!), which means that I’m sexually active now. Our method of contraception (no babies plz!) has been just using a condom. However, me and my partner would like to try to have sex without it to experience a different sensation. The problem is that I don’t trust myself in taking oral contraceptives, because I fear that I will forget. I have been exploring other options, and I found the IUD and that MIT is able to give me one for free! But I have three main concerns: Who should I contact? Can I do this during IAP? What type will be the best for me? I suffer from PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome); can I still get an IUD? What are the pros and cons? Thank you so much! —Soon-NOT-To-Be Mom

Illustration of a cornucopia containing capsules and multivitamin bottles

November 28, 2018

Magic pill?

Dear Lucy: I know that food supplements can’t provide everything we need to be healthy, and I know we should eat fresh fruits and veggies. But does it help at all to take a multivitamin pill daily? I’ve heard that most of these vitamins are just giving you overdoses of things you already get in your diet, but we students don’t always eat very balanced meals. And if you do recommend daily vitamins, what brand is the best? (I’ve been using GNC.) —Too Busy To Eat

llustration of two people lifting weights, one with stink lines coming from his armpits

November 14, 2018

Could it B-vitamins?

Dear Lucy: My workout partner usually stinks, even just after he’s taken a shower and put on clean clothes. I think I once read that large amounts of B vitamins can cause this kind of body odor, and he does take a lot. He claims that he needs them to help him stay focused. Can this be true? He’s a good partner, except for the stink. Any suggestions? —Stink Bombed

Illustration of the words "side effects" written with lotion that is being squeezed out of a tube

October 25, 2018

Cream of WHAT?

Dear Lucy: I was prescribed miconazole nitrate 2% cream for ringworm on my arm. Out of curiosity, I Googled possible side effects, and one of the side effects listed was “anorexia.” I didn’t know you could become anorexic from applying cream to your skin. How is this even possible? ‬ —So Very Hungry

Illustration of a person in a hazmat suit with a spray bottle and sponge cleaning a surface

October 9, 2018

Last [fresh]man standing

Dear Lucy: Hey! I’m a freshman and everyone’s been getting sick around me. Google advises me to wash and sanitize my hands and wipe down surfaces to prevent myself from getting sick, but I’m a busy MIT student and don’t have time to clean every surface every minute and wash my hands every time I touch anything. When should I wash or sanitize my hands? What surfaces should I clean, and how often? Also, here, have a meme! —Clean Bill Of Health

Illustration of five laboratory vials of blood samples

September 21, 2018

Safer sex

Dear Lucy: I’m a new graduate student at MIT, and I’m gay. While I do have a boyfriend, I also have sex with other men actively. I want to go through STI testing, and I am also thinking of taking PrEP medicines to prevent HIV infection. Are the STI tests and PrEP covered by student insurance? And which doctor should I see for the testing and prescription?—So Many Questions

illustration of person spraying sunscreen on her hand

August 16, 2018

Lotion or spray; What’s the best way?

Dear Lucy: I found your recent question on sunscreen and SPF numbers very interesting. I particularly appreciated the reminder that we need to use a sufficient amount of sunscreen to get the full amount of protection—it’s something I know in theory but don’t always remember to do in practice. But what about spray-on sunscreen? Is it as effective as sunscreen lotions? Is there some metric for how much to use and guidelines for how to apply it properly? —Eat Spray Love

Illustration of two containers of sunscreen, one with a label reading 'SPF 30' and one with a label reading 'SPF 75'

July 30, 2018

Burning question

Dear Lucy: I’m a redhead and get sunburns very easily. For that reason, I always buy the highest SPF sunscreen I can find. But is a higher number really better? SPF 100 costs much more than SPF 50. Do higher numbers really provide extra protection? Or at least enough extra protection to make them worth the much higher cost? —Better Red Than Dead?

Illustration of a bottle of antacid tablets

June 27, 2018

Am I getting enough?

Dear Lucy: I want to be sure I am getting enough calcium. I have heard that TUMS is a possible source, but I have also heard that the body does not absorb this calcium well. Can you help with this? —Bone Of Contention

illustration of a pack of birth control pills with a smiley face on the front of each pill

May 22, 2018

Scrambled eggs?

Dear Lucy: If a woman is on oral contraceptive pills for a year, does this mean that no eggs are released for that year? Could this hurt her chances of conceiving later, in her late 20s, 30s, or 40s? —All In One Basket

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