Get tested for STDs – The Hawkeye - The HawkEye

Posted: 30 Sep 2019 12:39 PM PDT

Kaitlin Maness, [email protected]
September 30, 2019

Louisiana has the highest rate of sexually transmitted diseases in the country, according to the National Council for Home Safety and Security, and nationally college-aged people have more sex than any other demographic in the country.
That is why ULM students need to get tested for STDs even if they believe they are being 100 percent safe. In fact, ULM students have no excuses not to get routine STD testing. Being nervous to get tested is not worth having an STD that goes untreated.
One reason many college students might hesitate to be tested is because they are still under their parents' healthcare insurance. They might not want to get tested because they think their parents will be alerted of their results.
In some states, this is a possible issue but in Louisiana, there are no laws requiring healthcare providers to give information about your health services to your parents.
There is complete confidentiality between you and your healthcare provider. You don't have to stress about your mom finding out, but let's be honest, she probably already knows.
College students who are not under their parents' health insurance may hesitate to get tested for STDs because they are worried about the bill they will receive after their appointment. This makes sense as money is sometimes an issue for college students in America.
However, this shouldn't cause any problems for ULM students since we have access to affordable clinics in the nearby area. One example is GO CARE medical clinic. It offers free HIV, hepatitis C and syphilis tests. GO CARE is located on North 7th Street in Monroe which is about an 11-minute drive from campus.
If you don't have a car, you probably have a friend who does and would happily give you a ride. There is no need to specify why you are going to the clinic since GO CARE provides more than just STD testing. You can dodge the embarrassment and still make it to your appointment. Although a friend who would judge you for getting tested for STDs isn't really a friend at all.
If the student is diagnosed with an STD, treatment will not be free. But many STDs can lead to death if not treated.
Can you really put a price on your life or the life of your partner? If you must pay for a $50 prescription for a few months, you will find the money. Instead of heading to Tipsy on the weekend or eating Chick-Fil-A for lunch, put that extra cash toward treatment.

Get yourself tested - The Branding Iron

Posted: 25 Sep 2019 05:51 AM PDT

pedestrians-918471_1920 — Photo from Pixabay

Mickelle Bisbee – Staff Writer

In 2017, 38,739 people were reportedly diagnosed with HIV, and more than 2.295 million cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis were reported in the US, according to the Center of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

"People think of wellness as being physically healthy or mentally healthy, but people forget that sexual health is also a big part of college students' wellness," said Addi Lacey, Wellness Center Assistant.

Many sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are treatable, but without being tested, it is easy for them to go untreated. Student Health has partnered with many public health departments around the state and UW's Wellness Ambassadors to help prevent this by offering free STD testing through the CDC's campaign "Get Yourself Talking, Get Yourself Tested" (GYT). Testing will be from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. today in the Wyoming Union Ballroom.

"STD testing is really important because most STDs do not have any symptoms and, if left untreated, they can cause devastating consequences, like infertility from gonorrhea and chlamydia, or even death from HIV," said Amy Robohm, coordinator of GYT and family practitioner at Student Health. "While prevention through practicing safer sex is ideal, early diagnosis and treatment of STD's can significantly reduce their impact and reduce their spread."

GYT's first event at UW was in 2013 and started just testing for chlamydia and gonorrhea. Throughout the years, they added HIV to the tests.

From having 94 students tested in 2013 to more than 250 students at last fall's event in 2018, the turnout for getting tested is increasing. Robohm said that they plan to host this campaign at least twice a year.

Students will be able to collect their own samples for chlamydia and gonorrhea in the privacy of a bathroom, and the HIV test will be done through a finger prick test. No exam will be needed.

"Over half of students who attend this event have never had STD screening before" Robohm said. "Others make GYT a regular part of taking care of their sexual health."

Not only will the event be offering free STD testing, they will be serving free pizza to everyone who participates.

While this event is available and free to all, Robohm said that the public setting for STD testing may be uncomfortable for some. That is why Student Health offers free or affordable STD and HIV testing every day, with an appointment.

"Getting testing in a large public setting is not for everyone," Robohm said. "And in fact, if a student is having symptoms or knows they have been exposed to an STD, they would be better served by making an appointment so that they can receive an exam, if needed, and so that they can be treated while we are waiting for test results."

Robohm also said that if a student is concerned about having been exposed to HIV, they should make an appointment so that they may be tested in a more private setting.

"Please consider getting yourself tested," said Robohm. "And encourage your friends to take care of their health as well."

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