VCU student health promotes STD testing

VCU is average compared to colleges across the country when it comes to the prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases on campus.

“I don’t necessarily know how many students have STDs. . I can’t say I know a person who has it (an STD), but it doesn’t mean that they don’t,” Alexandra Boykin, a psychology major, said.

Linda Hancock, nurse practitioner at Student Health Services and assistant director of the Office of Health Promotion, said that VCU’s STD rates appear to be similar to national statistics.

“You can’t exactly sample your whole student body. The best we can do is look at the number of people who present for care and see the prevalence of STIs of the people that show up to be tested,” Hancock said.

Last spring, close to 1,800 students were tested at Student Health Services, including 1,500 women and 300 men.

“I would go to student health because it is closer and quicker than going somewhere else,” Cindy Hanahan, an art major, said.

There are more women tested, Hancock said, because women can get tested when they go to have their annual exam, but men get tested mainly if they think they have a symptom of an STD or have a partner insisting they get tested.

Of those tested last spring semester, 5 percent to 10 percent were infected with chlamydia, 2 percent to 3 percent were infected with gonorrhea, 0.2 percent were infected with HIV and none were infected with syphilis. Testing for herpes is only done when there is a blister or a sore, so it is hard to see what the prevalence truly is.

“We are pretty average across the country. Young people have more STDs because they are the ones out, and they haven’t found their stable partners yet and are still moving around,” Hancock said.

She also said that STDs travel in socioeconomic circles, which means the risk differs depending on whether or not a person has money to pay for care or has the ability to access services. Those in a lower socioeconomic category who do not have the money to receive care are more likely to have STDs with symptoms.

College students generally have access to money and seek treatment, resulting in lower STD rates on campuses, Hancock said.

STDs can be classified into two categories – those that can be cured and those that can be managed. Chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis can all be cured with an antibiotic or antifungal medication. HIV and herpes, however, cannot be cured, but there are medications to help manage them.

These medications, except those for HIV, can all be issued by the pharmacy at student health and are relatively cheap.

Treatment is not available for HIV because one needs to see a specialist. HIV drugs cost nearly $1,000 per month.

All testing for STDs is free at student health by appointment. Hancock added that men should not be worried about testing because urine tests are used rather than the old Q-tip tests.

Hancock also offered advice for students about preventing STDs and about using a condom.

“Be true to yourself. People, I think, feel pressured into having sex because they think everyone else is having five or 10 sex partners, and they wonder what’s wrong with them. Be true to who you are and think it through,” she said. “Also, use the belt and suspender method, using hormonal contraception and a condom. Always, always condoms.”

Her new favorite sound byte is “condom slackers,” and she said these are people who do not use condoms.

“If your partner is 100 percent with you, 100 percent always covering up, then they are probably 100 percent with other people. If they are a condom slacker, if they don’t use a condom with you, then they didn’t use them with anybody. VCU students unite – do not trust condom slackers. Those are the people who are spreading diseases around,” she said.

Boykin said she thinks wise choices are important for protection from STDs.

“Be smart and make good decisions. If you don’t practice abstinence, just be safe and cautious, and remember that even protection doesn’t always prevent you from getting an STD,” she said.

Hancock, in addition, has rules for when to where condoms: Wear a condom when your partner is outside a 50-mile radius, if they are in the military, if they go to another university, if they party or get high, if they are a supermodel-varsity-athlete-type of person – the type of person people throw themselves at – or is a former lover.

She also said to remember the most common symptom of any STD is nothing.