Health Services provides facts and screenings for most STDs

A recent approval by the FDA regarding the usage of the vaccine Gardasil, as it pertains to males, has sparked waves of renewed interest in the research of sexually transmitted diseases.

This interest is specifically important to college students because of the higher risk they are for contracting an STD. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that 15 to 24 year-olds acquire nearly half of all new STDs.

“I think they’re fairly common but I don’t think we have more than anywhere else,” Alice Loper, director of Student Health Services said of GCSU’s STD rates.

Loper also discussed which STDs are prevalent at GCSU, stating that herpes and chlamydia are seen quite frequently at the health clinic. These types of STDs are spread quickly due to individuals being asymptomatic. Males that contract chlamydia show no signs of infection and females who are infected do not show symptoms until the disease has progressed to a higher level.

STDs are also being spread on campus through sexual irresponsibility, according to Loper.

“People get caught up in the moment and don’t always use rational thinking but in the long run it pays to be safe,” Loper said.

Another threat to college students is human papillomavirus the sexually transmitted virus that Gardasil protects against. Currently, the drug is recommended to females between the ages of 13 and 26, but it is in the final stages of being approved for male use.

If Gardasil is approved to protect males from HPV, the rates of infections could decline, because males do not produce visible symptoms which can lead to easier transmission of HPV much easier. The health clinic does not stock Gardasil, but according to officials a student can retrieve the vaccine from their physician and have it sent to a drug store and the clinic can administer it.

“Students can always come in for free condoms, free oral HIV tests, free pregnancy tests at any time,” University Health Educator Rachel Sullivan said regarding the flexibilities of the health clinic.

Sullivan has hosted many health awareness programs, usually around spring time, regarding sexual responsibility. Her goal is to make students sexually aware and to support them in making safer sex decisions, she said.

“We want every student to have an enjoyable college experience without the emotional and physical aspects of having an STD,” Sullivan said

The health clinic currently offers STD screening for HIV, gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, and herpes by appointment, unless the student is experiencing symptoms. The testing fee is $50 for a complete screening. To be tested for all the STDs excluding herpes the fee is $25.

“I don’t want students to think we’re over here making tons of money,” Loper said of the health fees. “We aren’t a money making unit, we just charge what we have to to cover costs,”

The health clinic also provides women health exams, given to females wishing to be prescribed birth control. Confidentiality is also an important unit of the clinic. Loper stresses the sensitivity of GCSU student health records, stating that health records aren’t released without the permission of the student.

GCSU students aren’t resistant to STDs at any rate, in fact the CDC reported that sexually-active adolescents ages 20-24 are at a higher risk for acquiring STDs for a combination of behavioral, biological and cultural reasons.

“Because of my chosen major, I’m passionate about promoting awareness, but I believe everyone should be protecting their bodies and self image,” Krystle Kvalheim, a junior nursing major, said about the prevention of STDs on campus.

Kvalheim also said that STDs were easily preventable if students just choose to take the proper precautions. Actions such as not having multiple partners, always wearing a condom during sexual encounters, and taking birth control are all ways Loper, Sullivan, and Kvalheim spoke of to prevent the spread of STDs.

“Student Health wants to support our students in the decisions they make,” Sullivan said. “We just want them to be responsible decision makers”

Posted by Colonnade Archives on Oct 30 2009. Filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry