Student Health Center offers straight talk about STDs

They call it Cupid's disease, venereal disease or VD. Some call it crotch rot. Others don't speak of it at all. But sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are out there, and students need to know how to protect themselves.

The Student Health Center cares about the health of students, including their sexual health.

Stephanie Hanenberg, family nurse practitioner and director of the health center, said, "The most common STDs among ages 25 to 44 are chlamydia and human papilloma virus, or HPV."

There are several risks associated with each of these diseases. Chlamydia can cause infertility in women. Men aren't affected by the disease, but can still carry it. Several strains of HPV cause genital warts and those are exactly what they sound like.

The Student Health Center offers several services to assist students in taking care of their sexual health, either to treat existing issues or prevent future infections. It offers testing for most STDs, with prices ranging from $30 to $90.

They are also offering Clyde's Care, a new health plan that covers office visits, physical exams and several in-office labs for $125 per semester. Clyde's Care doesn't offer STD-specific plans, but the unlimited office visits can help if you have multiple issues throughout the semester.

The health center also offers free condoms in the waiting room. The selection is limited, but according to Hanenberg, that shouldn't matter. "They're one size, but I can fit my whole arm in one – and my arm isn't small," she said.

Despite offering condoms, Hanenberg is very clear: The only 100-percent effective way to avoid STDs is to not have sex.

Condoms are the only other option, but vary in effectiveness. Chlamydia is usually stopped by condoms, but HPV can completely bypass them depending on where the warts are. Any skin-to-skin contact with warts can spread that virus.

UCCS also hosts sex talks in the dorms. Called "Sexual Health Talks," the talks provide an open forum for students to air all of their sex-related questions.

Despite all of the health center's efforts at education, however, they still get some odd questions. Jennifer O'Connell said, "One question we've gotten is if you can get STDs from the toilet seat." According to Hanenberg, the answer is a firm "no."

Hanenberg tells another story of a young man who approached her while she was working at a previous job. He wanted to know if he could hurt himself with the amount of time he was masturbating. According to Hanenberg, the only issue that one has to worry about with over-masturbation is chafing.

But, O'Connell said, "Most of the questions are legit."

Regardless of the legitimacy of your questions, the staff of the Student Health Center is always willing to answer them – whether you ask them in the Sexual Health Talks for community benefit or in the privacy of an exam room.