2008 Woodie Awards
Protect Yourself
Letter to the Editor
Marla Joy
Issue date: 4/11/07 Section: Opinion
According to the Humboldt County Communicable Disease report, chlamydia infections are at an all-time high for the months of January and February 2007. What does that mean for the students at Humboldt State? Time to get tested!
Chlamydia is most prevalent in people ages 15-25 years old, which is a significant portion of the population on this campus. In 80 percent of the infected population, chlamydia is a silent disease without any signs or symptoms until the advanced stages. Why is the state of California so concerned about this rampant sexually transmitted disease? In advanced stages or with multiple occurrences, the infection can lead to infertility and chronic pain. It is simple to detect and simple to treat with antibiotics. It is curable.
What are the risk factors?
•Two or more partners in a year.
•Sex with someone you don't know. (That is, someone you wouldn't trust with your life.)
•Unprotected sex of any kind (oral, vaginal, anal).
•Sex under the influence of drugs/alcohol.
Planned Parenthood is on campus at the Student Health Center upstairs in the conference room every Tuesday from 12:30-3:30 p.m. Every Thursday they are on campus at the "J" on the mezzanine floor, in the Agate Room from 5-7 p.m. Hormonal birth control options are available to women, namely the pill, patch, ring and the shot. Over-the-counter supplies for pregnancy and sexually transmitted disease prevention are offered as well. Oral HIV testing is also available. The Center for Disease Control recommends routine annual HIV screening for anyone that has had a new sex partner in the last year.
Services are low-cost or at no-cost for those who qualify for the California State Family Planning Program. A small gift is presented to those who test for chlamydia.
The bottom line is to respect yourself and to protect yourself.
Chlamydia is most prevalent in people ages 15-25 years old, which is a significant portion of the population on this campus. In 80 percent of the infected population, chlamydia is a silent disease without any signs or symptoms until the advanced stages. Why is the state of California so concerned about this rampant sexually transmitted disease? In advanced stages or with multiple occurrences, the infection can lead to infertility and chronic pain. It is simple to detect and simple to treat with antibiotics. It is curable.
What are the risk factors?
•Two or more partners in a year.
•Sex with someone you don't know. (That is, someone you wouldn't trust with your life.)
•Unprotected sex of any kind (oral, vaginal, anal).
•Sex under the influence of drugs/alcohol.
Planned Parenthood is on campus at the Student Health Center upstairs in the conference room every Tuesday from 12:30-3:30 p.m. Every Thursday they are on campus at the "J" on the mezzanine floor, in the Agate Room from 5-7 p.m. Hormonal birth control options are available to women, namely the pill, patch, ring and the shot. Over-the-counter supplies for pregnancy and sexually transmitted disease prevention are offered as well. Oral HIV testing is also available. The Center for Disease Control recommends routine annual HIV screening for anyone that has had a new sex partner in the last year.
Services are low-cost or at no-cost for those who qualify for the California State Family Planning Program. A small gift is presented to those who test for chlamydia.
The bottom line is to respect yourself and to protect yourself.
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