“Students think they won’t get (an STD), but it can happen to anybody who is sexually active,” said Katye Miller, a program coordinator for the Student Wellness Center.
The center, located inside the Recreation and Physical Activity Center offers an array of sexual education resources for students, including free and confidential HIV testing and a program that allows students to buy condoms in bulk. The Wellness Center also provides support should a student test positive.
“If a student receives a positive, a second test will be done by the Student Health Center to confirm. If that also comes back positive, we will help the student to connect with the appropriate support services,” Miller said.
Miller said the Counseling and Consultation Services, located in the Younkin Success Center, can provide additional one-on-one counseling and support groups for students who have contracted an STD or HIV.
One out of every four college students is estimated to have an STD, according to the CDC. Students who have had three or more sexual partners within the past year are at a high risk for contracting an STD or HIV. Miller said any behavior that involves skin-to-skin contact with genitals or the transmission of bodily fluids can lead to STDs or HIV.
“If condoms are used perfectly every time, they are 98 percent effective, but if symptoms of STDs are present outside of the area covered by the condom, such as genital warts, the condom will not protect against it,” Miller said.
Preventative measures such as the use of dental dams, finger cots, latex gloves and lubricant are available for free to students who join the center’s Condom Club. Members can also purchase up to 50 condoms per day for $5.
Michelle Mendoza, a sophomore in international studies, said she thinks the Condom Club is a good idea.
“It gives students the chance to protect themselves and their partners,” Mendoza said.
Miller said students who have an STD might not know it because often they do not show any symptoms, or do not connect the symptoms with an STD. Some STDs can present symptoms in three to five days, others can take weeks and HIV can even take years before symptoms become apparent, Miller said.
According to the Wellness Center Web site, approximately 90 percent of young people infected with HIV do not know it.
Some STDs such as Chlamydia and Gonorrhea can be easily treated and cured with antibiotics, but there is no cure for others such as genital HPV or genital herpes.
There is a vaccine for women that protects against five strains of HPV, some of which can lead to cervical cancer, according to the Web site.
“Women who are interested in the vaccine should talk to their clinician to determine if it is right for them,” Miller said.
Appointments can be made at the SWC Monday through Thursday for HIV testing, and the SWC will continue to provide free STD testing once a quarter with the help of Columbus Public Health, Miller said.
To help students combat infection, the Student Wellness Center is holding free and confidential STD testing Oct. 14 from 2:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Women’s Field House. Anonymous HIV testing will be available on a walk-in basis during the same time at the center and they also accept appointments.
The Columbus Health Department offers free HIV and syphilis testing Mondays from 1 to 3 p.m. at Planned Parenthood, 18 E. 17th Ave.
*Previous Lantern staff reports contributed to this story.Holly Davis can be reached at [email protected].
