The safest form of sex, they say, is to abstain from it. But let’s be honest here, we are college students—and college students enjoy their sex. As far as sex is concerned, however, there can be too much of a good thing. That is, if certain precautions aren’t taken.
Irresponsible and reckless sexual behavior can lead to unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections (STI), and among college-aged people, the risk of either is increased.
According to a report released last year by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), roughly 1 million children and young adults 10 to 24 years old, contracted chlamydia, gonorrhea or syphilis in 2006, and 45 percent of women ages 20 to 24 had a human papillomavirus (HPV) infection.
In Multnomah County alone, there were almost 11,000 new cases of chlamydia reported in 2008, up from nearly 7,000 cases in 2000. Meanwhile, the number of cases of gonorrhea has remained constant at about 1,200 cases a year.
“It’s a sexually active population, absolutely. And rightfully so,” said Janice McBee, nurse manager for the Center for Student Health and Counseling (SHAC). “However, there are options, and people need to be smart in those options.”
The biggest advice McBee has for sexually active students is to ensure they are having protected sex.
“There are several options for safe sex,” she said.
Barrier methods such as male or female condoms can greatly reduce (though not eliminate) the chances of unwanted pregnancies and STIs. To be effective though, they must be used properly and regularly. It only takes sexual contact with one infected partner to contract something, so consistency is important.
Using dual methods of protection like condoms in tandem with the use of birth control pills is also recommended to further decrease the likelihood of pregnancy or infection.
SHAC offers a variety of services for the safe-sex minded student, and McBee, a nurse of nearly 40 years, encourages students to take advantage of the assistance available. She said students set up appointments for a nurse visit, and that students set the agenda.
McBee said an appointment with a nurse would involve a brief questionnaire to provide information on sexual history and the objective of the visit.
“It’s really about listening to the student,” she said. “It might be, say, an 18 year old that is just starting out having sexual activity, or possibly it’s someone very experienced and they’re considering an IUD [an intra-uterine device used for contraception].”
Screening for STIs is another service offered by SHAC, whether students are showing signs of an infection or are asymptomatic and just looking for peace of mind. Students can make an appointment to get checked, with the results typically available within two to three days.
The CDC reports that screening is “one of the most effective, yet underutilized, tools…to help prevent the further spread of [STIs],” and according to McBee, not enough students are getting checked.
In a study released by the CDC last November, there were over 1.5 million cases of chlamydia and gonorrhea reported in 2008—making them the most commonly reported infectious diseases in the country.
Because infections are more common in young women and about 70 percent of chlamydia infections and 50 percent of gonorrhea infections in women have no symptoms, the CDC recommends annual screenings for sexually active women under 26 years old.
“If anybody is suspecting anything at all, absolutely make an appointment,” McBee said. “Everything is confidential, it’s very respectful, and we are absolutely here for the student population.”