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When it comes to encounters of the sexual kind, how many of us are really being smart about it? According to the American College Health Association National College Health Assessment, only 18 percent of college students always use condoms during vaginal sex.
For many of us, college is commonly a time of self-discovery and experimentation, especially of the sensual variety. But are we aware of the long lasting effects of the way we get it on? I know it might be hard to think about the ramifications of our sexual actions when we're in the heat of the moment, but here are some reasons why we should care:
The ABCs of STDs
As the name implies, sexually transmitted diseases are spread through sex: Vaginal, anal and oral. Many STDs have no symptoms or the symptoms go away on their own, but without treatment you still have the infection.
"What you don't know can still hurt you," said Dr. Katz in reference to sexually transmitted diseases. Dr. Katz is a staff physician at the Diamond Head Health Center - STD/HIV Clinic and a University of Hawai'i epidemiology professor.
In the short run, depending on the infection, males and females can experience similar symptoms. These symptoms include sores, bumps, blisters, itching, swelling and redness around your sex organs, as well as while going pee, it might burn or you may need to go more often.
If left untreated, STDs can lead to damaging infections of your reproductive organs, blindness, heart disease, liver damage, a compromised immune system and even death.
For more signs symptoms and treatment for various STDs, check out the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's Web site link at www.cdc.gov/std/HealthComm/fact_sheets.htm.
Ladies, can I get your attention?
"It's unfortunate but women really do suffer the brunt of the untreated STDs. An untreated Chlamydia infection in women increases her chances of sterility." explains Dr. Katz, and HPV in women can lead to cancer.
Women who have chlamydia and gonorrhea can get Pelvic Inflammatory disease where the bacterial infection moves up the uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries. Women who have PID are also more likely to have a "tubal pregnancy" which can be fatal. PID is also the leading cause of infertility among women.
They can be treated but it's best not to wait until it gets to this point. Getting tested is the only way to make sure you do or do not have an STD and remember many STDs are asymptomatic.
Getting it on
Blue, pink, ribbed, flavored, glow in the dark, attached vibrating ring, there are so many fun, different kinds of condoms you can use with your partner. They are relatively inexpensive; in fact you can get them for free at most clinics, including the one on campus.
If you're going to have sex, using a condom is the best line of defense against spreading STDs to and from your lover. "They (condoms) are good for gonorrhea prevention, chlamydia prevention and HIV prevention. They are good but not exceptional for HPV... but they have been shown to be protective. So the idea that condoms don't give protection is completely false," explains Dr. Katz.
Not only are condoms a good way to reduce your chances of getting an STD, but they're an excellent way to decrease the chances of an unwanted pregnancy.
"I use (a condom) every time. I don't want an accident, I have so much of my future ahead of me," said a female undergraduate student.
"(Condoms) are definitely a must. I don't want to be a daddy," said a senior male undergraduate.
Getting tested
Raise your sexual GPA by getting tested for STDs. It's very low cost at the UH Health Services and it's free at the Diamond Head Health Center. Testing is confidential and you get free condoms too.
Ask your partner to get tested as well. It speaks volumes about the respect your lover has for you, and him or herself if they get tested. If you're met with a little bit of resistance, understand your partner may not realize that getting tested is strictly about being safe and healthy and not about some investigative ploy to uncover their infidelity.
Some people might tell themselves, "I just know I'm clean." Unfortunately, getting tested is the only way to confirm that. If you have had sex, anal, oral or vaginal, you have been exposed to possible STDs.
Please e-mail questions and comments to Jokura@hawaii.edu
Diamond Head Health Center - STD/HIV Clinic 3627 Kilauea Ave. Room 305 Honolulu, HI 96816 WALK-IN HOURS: Mon-Tues-Thurs-Fri 12 - 5 p.m. Wed 1 to 6 p.m. (closed on weekends and State holidays) Telephone 733-9280 (recorded message) 733-9286 (STD results only) 733-9281 (HIV results or to talk with a clinician) http://hawaii.gov/health/healthy-lifestyles/std-aids/aboutus/prg-clinic/index.html
[At the state funded STD clinic at Diamond Head Center, HIV testing is also included and it is free and confidential. The DHC is a busy clinic so the best time to go is when they first open at noon since it is on a first come first serve basis. The turn around time for results is about 10 calendar days.]
University Health Services Manoa UHSM@hawaii.edu 1710 East-West Road HOURS OF OPERATION CLINIC HOURS: M-F: 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., 12:30 to 4 p.m.; W: 8:30 a.m. to 12, 1:30 to 4 p.m. Ph: 956-8965 http://www.hawaii.edu/shs
Waikiki Health Center 277 'Ohua Ave. Honolulu, HI 96815 Ph: 922-4787 http://www.waikikihc.org/
Resources: http://www.cdc.gov/std/HealthComm/fact_sheets.htm http://www.sexualhealth.com/index.php STD/AIDS hotline: 922-1313 Family Planning Information Line: 737-6311
