One in four college students has an STD
Mark Freeman
Issue date: 3/13/07 Section: News
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One way to deal with STDs is through early detection. George Mason's Health Services explains that "STDs do not go away by themselves and if untreated can lead to Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID), infertility, cancer, neurological disorders or worse." Many major infections like chlamydia, and syphilis are curable, so people are better off if they detect the disease early on.
Of course the best way to deal with STDs is to abstain from having sex. But as the NBC report explains, the practice is harder than it sounds. Carey, the Syracuse health director, explained that "comprehensive sexual health programs are more effective than abstinence programs" since they include messages about "self-management strategies and personal skills," as well as discussions of abstaining from sex altogether.
At Saint Mary's, the Student Health and Wellness Center offers resources for students who want information or counseling about STDs. The Center provides informational pamphlets about sexual health and birth control and also works with the Peer Educators Network to deal with issues involving STDs and other viruses like AIDS. Programs like these hope to tackle the bigger problem of STDs on college campuses.
But are STDs a large concern at Saint Mary's? Some students believe it's impossible to know for sure. "You're not going to know if the school has a big problem or not, because people aren't going to say that they have a STD," said Jade Worsley '10.
Regardless of how pervasive STDs are on campus, it is important for Saint Mary's students to be aware of the risks and understand how to protect themselves. Engaging in unsafe sex can set a person up for "behaviors that may have a significant negative impact down the road," Carey said.
Of course the best way to deal with STDs is to abstain from having sex. But as the NBC report explains, the practice is harder than it sounds. Carey, the Syracuse health director, explained that "comprehensive sexual health programs are more effective than abstinence programs" since they include messages about "self-management strategies and personal skills," as well as discussions of abstaining from sex altogether.
At Saint Mary's, the Student Health and Wellness Center offers resources for students who want information or counseling about STDs. The Center provides informational pamphlets about sexual health and birth control and also works with the Peer Educators Network to deal with issues involving STDs and other viruses like AIDS. Programs like these hope to tackle the bigger problem of STDs on college campuses.
But are STDs a large concern at Saint Mary's? Some students believe it's impossible to know for sure. "You're not going to know if the school has a big problem or not, because people aren't going to say that they have a STD," said Jade Worsley '10.
Regardless of how pervasive STDs are on campus, it is important for Saint Mary's students to be aware of the risks and understand how to protect themselves. Engaging in unsafe sex can set a person up for "behaviors that may have a significant negative impact down the road," Carey said.