Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Infected people often spread STDs unknowingly
Ashley Paulson
Issue date: 10/29/09 Section: News
We've heard the lectures from high school health teachers, doctors, and even our parents. But the truth is, college students are the highest risk age group for contracting sexually transmitted diseases.
Lakeland College Nurse Practitioner Rhonda Adler says, "There are more than 25 STDs to date." Some of the most common STDs include chlamydia, genital herpes, gonorrhea, pelvic inflammatory disease, and human papillomavirus (HPV). "The problem is there are very few symptoms with any of those STDs until you have an outbreak. Nobody can tell they have it while they're spreading it."
Despite being educated about STDs, students are still getting them. College-aged students are especially at risk of contracting STDs for many reasons. According to Sheboygan County Public Health Nurse Elizabeth Campion, the age range of 15 to 25 year olds experience the highest number of reported STDs. Because of few symptoms, STDs are easily spread because the infected individual is unaware of having a disease.
Another factor that faces college-aged students is the use of alcohol. Alcohol usage and unprotected sex are often related. "Alcohol reduces your ability to think through the consequences," says Adler.
According to Campion, "The risk taking behavior increases with alcohol consumption…It's very dangerous."
Another odd stacked against college students is the dorm setting. Parties occur often. "Freshmen are away from home for the first time with no parental controls," Campion says.
Although no specific information was available about the prominence of STDs on Lakeland's campus, due to confidentiality laws, Sheboygan County statistics from 2008 prove to be quite shocking. For females ranging from 16 to 20 years of age, 98 cases of STDs were reported, versus 15 in males.
For females ranging from 21 to 30 years of age, 110 cases of STDs were reported, versus 61 for males. It should be noted that men often don't notice that they are infected with an STD as early as women because many infections don't have symptoms. Also, women tend to visit hospitals more frequently than men for regular checkups.
Lakeland College Nurse Practitioner Rhonda Adler says, "There are more than 25 STDs to date." Some of the most common STDs include chlamydia, genital herpes, gonorrhea, pelvic inflammatory disease, and human papillomavirus (HPV). "The problem is there are very few symptoms with any of those STDs until you have an outbreak. Nobody can tell they have it while they're spreading it."
Despite being educated about STDs, students are still getting them. College-aged students are especially at risk of contracting STDs for many reasons. According to Sheboygan County Public Health Nurse Elizabeth Campion, the age range of 15 to 25 year olds experience the highest number of reported STDs. Because of few symptoms, STDs are easily spread because the infected individual is unaware of having a disease.
Another factor that faces college-aged students is the use of alcohol. Alcohol usage and unprotected sex are often related. "Alcohol reduces your ability to think through the consequences," says Adler.
According to Campion, "The risk taking behavior increases with alcohol consumption…It's very dangerous."
Another odd stacked against college students is the dorm setting. Parties occur often. "Freshmen are away from home for the first time with no parental controls," Campion says.
Although no specific information was available about the prominence of STDs on Lakeland's campus, due to confidentiality laws, Sheboygan County statistics from 2008 prove to be quite shocking. For females ranging from 16 to 20 years of age, 98 cases of STDs were reported, versus 15 in males.
For females ranging from 21 to 30 years of age, 110 cases of STDs were reported, versus 61 for males. It should be noted that men often don't notice that they are infected with an STD as early as women because many infections don't have symptoms. Also, women tend to visit hospitals more frequently than men for regular checkups.
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