STDs in College: Your Questions Answered - part 3 - women campus
What are some ways to avoid STD infection?
Most all STDs can be avoided by simple procedures. "Limit your number of partners, use protection, wash your genitals with soap and water, and urinate soon after you have sex. This might help clean away some of those nasty germs before they have a chance to infect you," recommends Dr. Pierre-Paul Tellier, director of Student Health Services at McGill University. It's easy to forget something as simple as hygiene, but it is pertinent to keep clean to steer clear of infection.
Elliott also brought up some ways to avoid STDs that we probably don't think of every day. She warns, "Ladies: Don't douche! Douching can increase your risk of getting an STD, or if you have an STD, it can increase the chances of serious complications. Also, circumcision in males reduces the risk of contracting HIV."
And sometimes, the best way to avoid contracting an STD is not always the fun way. "The only way to truly protect yourself from an STD is by NOT having sex of any kind...not vaginal, oral or anal. Also, while you should ALWAYS use condoms because they do significantly decrease your risk of getting STDs, they do not erase your risk entirely," says Dr. Mandi Beman, a board-certified Obstetrician/Gynecologist, who contributed to Chickrx.com.
Why should I get tested?
Bottom line: If you are sexually active, especially if you have multiple partners, get tested regularly. It can only benefit your health in the long run.
If you even think there's a slight chance you could be infected, go see a doctor. It's worth it in the end, particularly if you have an STD that can be cured quickly before it worsens. Make check-ups a regular thing. It is important to find out sooner rather than later so that potentially life-threatening health problems can be avoided for both you and your sexual partners.
"Since many STDs, like Chlamydia and HPV, are asymptomatic, you may not know you have one unless you get tested. Then you can get treated and if you have an STD you can take action to reduce the risk of spreading it to others," says Elliott.
In fact, over 80% of people who have an STD experience no noticeable symptoms. Keep in mind that just because you can't see the effects of an STD doesn't mean it's not there.
Based on gender, who's more likely to be infected?
Beware girls! Let it be known that women contract STDs much easier than men. Elliott explains, "Women are more susceptible to STDs because of their anatomy." Certain cervical cells make women more vulnerable to contracting STDs.
In fact, the CDCP reported that in 2009, the overall rate of reported Chlamydia infection among women in the U.S. was almost three times higher than the rate among men. Didn't see that one coming ladies!
More women are tested for Chlamydia than males. If Chlamydia is not detected it can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and complications of PID include chronic pelvic pain and infertility. It's easier for women to notice the symptoms of certain STDs if they directly affect the female body.
