2008 Woodie Awards
Holding back infection
Talking about STDs aids prevention, says sex educator
By: Angela Ludwinski
Issue date: 4/12/07 Section: LifeStyle
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According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, some 19 million people will be diagnosed with a sexually transmitted disease in 2007. Half of them will be between the ages of 15 and 24. Although STDs are extremely prevalent, steps can be taken to prevent STDs, like practicing abstinence or educating yourself.
"People think they're going to luck out and don't take precautions," said Shannon Ragan, a freshman English major.
Susan Daily, director of Health Services at Webster, thinks there is some degree of na'veté in students' views of their sexual health.
"Most students come to me when they are about at the start of a sexual relationship," Daily said. "Many think their partner has never been with other people or that they can't get any STD the first time. There is some degree of thinking that it can't happen to me."
Allison Hile, a sexuality educator from the Hope Clinic for Women in Granite City, Ill., believes too many people do not ask enough questions about their partner's sexual history because they are uncomfortable doing so.
"Every couple needs to have that talk about sexually transmitted diseases," Hile said. "Be sure to do it with the lights and your clothes on. There's nothing worse than trying to talk about it in the moment. After your talk, go together to get tested."
The St. Louis area has a few locations where Webster students can go to get tested for STDs., including Planned Parenthood. The closest to Webster is at 4251 Forest Park Ave. in the city. Various St. Louis County Health Centers and St. Louis Connect Care on Delmar Boulevard also perform STD testing.
To get tested at Planned Parenthood, students have a few options. They can make an appointment for an exam and get tested. Four basic STD tests are available: HIV, syphilis, chlamydia and gonorrhea. The test cost is based on a sliding scale consisting of income, number of dependents and how many tests the patient wants.
"People think they're going to luck out and don't take precautions," said Shannon Ragan, a freshman English major.
Susan Daily, director of Health Services at Webster, thinks there is some degree of na'veté in students' views of their sexual health.
"Most students come to me when they are about at the start of a sexual relationship," Daily said. "Many think their partner has never been with other people or that they can't get any STD the first time. There is some degree of thinking that it can't happen to me."
Allison Hile, a sexuality educator from the Hope Clinic for Women in Granite City, Ill., believes too many people do not ask enough questions about their partner's sexual history because they are uncomfortable doing so.
"Every couple needs to have that talk about sexually transmitted diseases," Hile said. "Be sure to do it with the lights and your clothes on. There's nothing worse than trying to talk about it in the moment. After your talk, go together to get tested."
The St. Louis area has a few locations where Webster students can go to get tested for STDs., including Planned Parenthood. The closest to Webster is at 4251 Forest Park Ave. in the city. Various St. Louis County Health Centers and St. Louis Connect Care on Delmar Boulevard also perform STD testing.
To get tested at Planned Parenthood, students have a few options. They can make an appointment for an exam and get tested. Four basic STD tests are available: HIV, syphilis, chlamydia and gonorrhea. The test cost is based on a sliding scale consisting of income, number of dependents and how many tests the patient wants.
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