By: Dina Pobudanovic
Earlier this year we were asked
to pass out a survey to ten individuals, half of them were male and half of them were
female. We asked them a variety of questions about sex, gender, and STDs. The question
was, “What percentage of students on American college campuses have an STD?”
Surprisingly enough many of their answers were similar and ranged from about
20-35%. The correct answer is 25% of students have STDs and an even smaller
percentage of that actually know that they have an STD. The next question we
asked them was, “How would you know if you had an STD?” This time, however,
most of them said that they would know they had an STD because they would
feel/touch/smell it. That is a common misconception that many college students
as well as adults have in their lifetime. Just because you can’t see the wind
doesn’t mean it’s not there, right? Well just because you can’t feel an STD,
doesn’t mean it’s not there, either.
Shockingly enough,
only about 54% of college students use condoms during vaginal intercourse and
29% use it during anal intercourse.[1] Condoms are one of the main sources
of contraception when it comes to unwanted pregnancies and especially STDs. I
know, personally, some girls think that just because they’re on birth control
they don’t need to use condoms. This is not true because birth control doesn’t
protect against STDs. STDs can be bacterial and viral and although most STDs
are treatable and some curable, others such as Herpes and HIV are not. Very common
among young adults is the herpes infection. Herpes Simples Virus 1 is so common that it affects
50-80% of adults while genital herpes (Herpes
Simplex Virus 2) affects one in six college-aged students.[2]
Other STDs such as syphilis, chlamydia, gonorrhea, and HPV are common too. Most
of these can be seem to the naked eye but although HPV could cause genital
warts to flare up, you still wouldn’t know, unless you got tested, whether you
were at risk for developing cervical cancer.
Overall, everyone that practice
unsafe sex is at a risk for developing and STD. Even condoms don’t protect against
all STDs. However, many colleges provide free condoms and sexual education
courses but most students fail to utilize these resources.[1]
With that said, college is the time for most young adults to find themselves
and their passions and that can’t be done without a little experimentation.[3]
Just because you have sex doesn’t mean you are bound to get an STD. But as long
as you take precautions and are educated about it then you shouldn’t have to
worry.
[1] Waters,
Preston. "The 10 Most Shocking Facts About STD's In College | Elite
Daily." Elite Daily. http://elitedaily.com/dating/sex/10-shocking-facts-stds-college/
(accessed January 30, 2014).
[2] Alice.
"College students and STIs." Go Ask Alice!.
http://goaskalice.columbia.edu/college-students-and-stis (accessed January 31,
2014).
[3] Berman,
Laura. "STDs in College: What Students Need to Know." Dr Laura Berman
on Love Sex. http://www.everydayhealth.com/columns/dr-laura-berman-on-love-and-sex/stds-in-college-what-students-need-to-know/
(accessed January 31, 2014).
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