Most common STDs among student population
College age students (between the ages of 18-25) account for the largest number of new STD cases annually. The increased independence, minimal limitations and hedonistic lifestyle of college life cause many students to engage in reckless sexual behaviour. Add excessive consumption of alcohol to the mix and many students lower their inhibitions enough to engage in unsafe sex.
What is even more worrying is that a number of infected students do not experience any symptoms of STDs and might unknowingly infect several partners. Studies have also shown that in spite of the availability of free condoms in most colleges, the majority of students still fail to use them in their sexual encounters.
Common STDs among students include:
- Chlamydia.
This is one of the most prevalent STDs with up to a million new infections reported annually. Chlamydia is caused by a bacterium known as Chlamydia Trachomatis that can be transmitted through vaginal, oral or anal sex.
It is known as a silent STD because most infected people rarely exhibit symptoms. If any occur, they usually appear one to three weeks after contact. The symptoms may include lower abdominal pain, painful urination, vaginal discharge and painful intercourse in women or penile discharge and testicular pain in men.
Chlamydia can be successfully treated using antibiotics. However, individuals can get re-infected and the only way to prevent this is through correct and consistent condom use.
- Herpes.
This is another common STD among the college crowd. It is caused by the herpes simplex virus. Both forms of the virus (HSV-1 and HSV-2) can be transmitted through genital-to-genital or oral-genital contact. Individuals can also contract the disease by coming into contact with the bodily fluids (semen, vaginal secretions or saliva) of an infected person.
The most common genital herpes symptoms include painful lesions, blisters or sores on or around the genitals and rectum. Other symptoms include fatigue, swollen lymph nodes, muscle pains, chills and fever. Women might experience unusual vaginal discharge as well as changes in their menstrual cycle.
These symptoms vary in intensity among different individuals, with some displaying none at all. Although this disease has no cure, anti-viral medicines can be taken to control outbreaks.
- Human Papillomavirus (HPV).
There are over 100 different types of HPV viruses and a third of these affect the genital area. HPV is spread by skin-to-skin contact and although condoms will not entirely prevent the likelihood of contracting the disease, they will drastically reduce the risk.
Symptoms of HPV infection will vary depending on the virus strain found in the infected person. Some virus strains are known to cause genital warts (small, round or flat bumps on the genitals) while others only cause cellular changes in women’s cervixes. Other individuals might exhibit no symptoms of the disease.
This viral STD has no cure although vaccines are available to provide protection against certain strains of the virus.
College students are advised to go for regular STD screening at the various student health centres found in their respective colleges. Most STDs are often easily treated or managed if they are detected early enough.
Photo credit: kat m research
Category: Health
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