Taking it seriously

    Few experiences can rival college as being an amazing time to learn more about yourself, other people, and the world around you.  Sometimes that truth hits a little harder than you expect. 
    During Valentine’s Day, students across campus received candies, thoughtful note, loving words, and one or two people probably contracted a sexually transmitted disease.  They’ll have to learn way why STDs are a threat that most students do not take seriously.
    The Student Health Services Center offers free testing for STDs.  This testing is free to all GCSU students and confidentiality held between them and a certified nurse practitioner. 
    According to the Health Services Center, the average number of GCSU students who undergo STD testing is 15-20 students per week.  Of that number, 7-8 students test positive for having an STD. 
     Despite these numbers, Rachel Sullivan, University Health Educator, is not surprised that GCSU students continue to have sex with multiple partners without any concern for their physical or emotional health.
     “Students think they are invincible,” said Sullivan.  “They say, ‘it’s not going to happen to me and it’s not big deal’ without ever thinking of the potential consequences.
Most sexually transmitted diseases are incurable.  HPV (Human Papillomavirus) and herpes make up nearly 60 percent of the STDs GCSU students test positive for, according to GCSU student health nurse practitioners.  Chlamydia follows, at nearly 30 percent.  HIV testing through the Student Health Clinic has not yet revealed significant numbers of positive cases.  At-risk students can also choose to be tested off-campus, but many at-risk students choose not to be tested at all.
     The Center for Disease Prevention and Control estimates that in the U.S. 19-million new STD infections occur each year and that one in four people will contract an STD in their lifetime1.
     Physical health is not alone in this risk.  Students engaging in sex in pre-marital sex with multiple partners put themselves in a place where they become vulnerable to emotional and psychological harm as well. One particular GCSU student, remaining anonymous, took that risk.
    “Wait till you’re sure you love the person, because it’s just not worth it any other way,” they said.
    The safest and surest way to remain STD free is abstinence, or to refrain from sexual activity.  Students may give a number of reasons to practice abstinence, whether it’s religion, personal conviction, or personal health, students with a reason to say “no” may be less likely to say, “yes” to unprotected sexual encounters.

Posted by Colonnade Archives on Feb 16 2007. Filed under Features. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry