Although the thought of discussing sex with your young adult child may seem embarrassing, statistics show that most college-age students are uninformed regarding sexual health and sexually transmitted diseases. This lack of understanding coupled with risky behaviors common among college students contribute to high college STD rates.
The following are facts from FastMed that every parent should know about college students and STDs and how they can keep their young adult child safe.
Overview of College STD Rates
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 20 million new cases of sexually transmitted diseases are diagnosed each year, and about half of these cases are among teens and young adults between the ages of 15 and 24. Among high school and college-age students, 40 percent admit to having intercourse, and as many as 10 percent admitted to having four or more sexual partners. Among the students surveyed, 46 percent had not used a condom during their last sexual encounter, and 14 percent used no form of birth control. As a result of these risky behaviors, more than 200,000 babies were born to young women between the ages of 15 and 19 in 2016. Young people between the ages of 13 and 24 also accounted for approximately 21 percent of new HIV diagnoses in 2016.
Examples of Common STDs Affecting College Students
There are more than 20 different types of bacteria, viruses, yeast, and parasites that can cause STDs among college students. The following are the most frequently seen STDs on college campuses:
- Herpes: Symptoms include redness and sores on and around the genitals, thighs, and rectum. The lesions may also be oral and the virus often sheds in the absence of active lesions.
- Chlamydia: Known as a ‘silent’ infection because most infected people do not show symptoms and lack irregular physical examination findings, making it easy to unwittingly infect a partner. Persons who have been exposed to the infection may not develop symptoms for several weeks. In males, symptoms include pain or burning during urination, abnormal genital discharge, and pain affecting the reproductive organs. In females, symptoms include abnormal vaginal discharge (that may have an odor), bleeding between periods, painful periods, abdominal pain and pain during intercourse, itching or burning in or around the vagina, and pain when urinating. This also leads to infertility and increased risk of ectopic pregnancy–which can be fatal.
- Gonorrhea: Symptoms include genital discharge along with a burning sensation during urination.
- Syphilis: The initial symptom of syphilis is a painless sore on or around the genitals, anus, or mouth. As the disease progresses, the individual may develop a fever, swollen lymph nodes, and a rash on the hands and feet. If left untreated, syphilis can affect the brain, heart, and other organs.
- Human Papillomavirus: The human papillomavirus is a common cause of genital warts. Certain types of genital warts can lead to cancer. This is especially true in conjunction with a herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection.
- HIV/AIDS: When first infected, an individual may develop swollen glands along with mild to moderate flu-like symptoms. HIV can develop into AIDS if the immune system becomes compromised to the point that the body can’t fight off even minor infections.
How Common STDs Are Spread
Although any type of sexual intimacy can spread common STDs, the risk factors can vary depending on the specific type of infection and sexual practice.
Behaviors that Contribute to a High Rate of STDs Among College Students
Young age, newfound freedom, and a desire to explore and define their own identity often lead college students to engage in risky behaviors that put them at risk for STDs. Examples of risk factors contributing to high college STD rates include:
- Engaging in sexual activity while under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Having sex with multiple partners
- Having anonymous sex partners
- Engaging in sexual activity without using a condom
Preventing STDs on College Campuses
Although any type of anal, oral, or vaginal sex poses a risk, there are steps that young adults can take to remain as safe as possible:
- Opt for sexual activities that pose the least risk of disease transmission. Kissing, and touching pose less risk than vaginal or anal sex.
- Should be encouraged to limit their number of sexual partners.
- Should make it a practice to use condoms correctly each and every time they have sex.
- College students should be encouraged to limit or eliminate their use of substances, such as drugs or alcohol, which can lower inhibitions and impair judgment. It is also important for them to take steps to reduce the likelihood that someone will slip them a substance without their knowledge, including never accepting drinks from someone that they don’t know well or leaving drinks unattended.
- According to the CDC, “The most reliable way to avoid infection is to not have sex (i.e., anal, vaginal or oral).”
It is also important that parents have open and honest conversations about sexual health, including the importance of healthy and respectful relationships, factual information about the transmission of STDs and how they can be prevented, the benefits of protecting oneself against STDs, and how to obtain sexual health services.
College Students and STDs—How to Get Tested
Any college student who has engaged in unprotected sex should consider STD testing. Testing typically involves a physical exam and urine or blood tests. STD testing is not normally included in annual blood work, so parents should encourage their college-age children to be open with their healthcare provider about their sexual history and any symptoms that they may be having.
FastMed offers confidential, affordable STD testing seven days a week without an appointment. If necessary, our providers can prescribe the appropriate medications to treat the infection and minimize the risk of transmission or long-term complications. Call or stop by one of our convenient FastMed locations today for more information.
About FastMed
FastMed Urgent Care owns and operates nearly 200 centers in North Carolina, Arizona and Texas that provide a broad range of acute/episodic and preventive healthcare services 365 days a year. FastMed also provides workers’ compensation and other occupational health services at all its centers, and family and sports medicine services at select locations. FastMed has successfully treated more than six million patients and is the only independent urgent care operator in North Carolina, Arizona and Texas to be awarded The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for quality, safety and infection control in ambulatory healthcare. For more information about locations, services, hours of operation, insurance and prices, visit www.fastmed.com.