Don't dick around with STDs
Published Dec. 2, 2008
Chlamydia.
Are you cringing? You shouldn't be. It's the most common sexually transmitted disease in the U.S. and it can be cured with a few horse pills. Many of you would not know this because STDs aren't often a topic of conversation among us. We think of them as scary diseases that only skanks and whores would dare to carry. They carry a stigma and are often used as an insult. "What a dirty gutterslut. I heard she has gonorrhea."
We have got to stop this. No one would be ostracized for having any other health issue. Would we look down on someone for having cancer? The crazy thing is that you don't have to be ridiculously promiscuous to get an STD.
I read an article in Cosmopolitan about a girl who was infected with herpes the first time she ever had sex. Not a whore, just a girl with shitty luck and not enough information to protect herself.
To stop being so ignorant and judgmental about STDs I consulted the Student Health Center's Web site for a crash course. There are two types of STDs. The first is bacterial. These include gonorrhea, syphilis and chlamydia. These are curable.
The other type is viral, which includes the human papillomavirus (HPV), herpes, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis B. These are not curable but are treatable. Often, infected people will not show symptoms, but there are some to look out for: pain when urinating, discolored or heavy discharge, warts or lesions or sores in the mouth or genital area, a rash or itchy genitals, painful intercourse and flu-like symptoms.
It is vital to be tested. STD screenings aren't always a part of yearly exams or Pap smears, so never assume you are getting the appropriate tests. The Student Health Center advises talking to your doctor to see what is suitable for you. If you are sexually active, there is no reason not to be tested, especially as a student at MU. Many of the tests are covered by your student health fee.
Preaching abstinence isn't realistic — look at all of the pregnant Catholic high school girls. We are in college, and we have liquor and hormones. Sex happens, and it should.
Although nothing can protect you completely, there are things you can do decrease the likelihood of getting an STD. Always use a condom or dental dam, and get vaccinated. There are vaccines available for HPV, hepatitis A and hepatitis B. It's okay if you aren't comfortable bringing up herpes at lunch. Just make sure that you are discussing your concerns with two people: your doctor and your sexual partner.
And remember, STDs aren't and shouldn't be used as insults. Having an STD doesn't make you trashy. Fucking in an alleyway while your friends are around the corner at Harpo's and then losing your underwear is.