Spring Break
Students educated about consequences and actions
Lindsey Dutton/staff reporter
Issue date: 9/9/05 Section: The Verge
Many college students take advantage of being away from parents and get involved in unhealthy activies like unprotected sex. Because of this, Eastern's Health Services and the Coles County Health Department offer free and anonymous testing for students questioning their sexual health.
Students who think they may have a sexually transmitted disease (STD) or just want to be on the safe side can go to Health Services, which provides lab testing for all STDs except HIV.
According to Shelia Baker, Health Services medical director, there is no general test that detects all STDs. Tests are done individually either by swabbing the genital area or by a blood test.
"Chlamydia, gonorrhea, bacterial vaginosis, trichomonas and vaginal yeast are always tested for with females," Baker said. "Guys are always tested for chlamydia and gonorrhea."
These tests, which are done by swabbing the genital area, are done more often than other ones because these diseases are more common among college students.
"We only do a blood tests for syphilis and hepatitis when it is requested by a student," Baker said. "Many students have received vaccinations for hepatitis and the only students at risks for syphilis are female sex workers, people who have intercourse with someone infected with syphilis, men who have sex with men and IV drug users."
Health Services does not offer HIV testing, due to lack of equipment and HIV counselors to help students through the process. Students interested in HIV testing can go to the Coles County Health Department located on 18th Street.
"In the past, the Coles County Health Department came on campus a few times a year to do HIV testing," Baker said. "I think they stopped doing it because students didn't seem to show interest."
Eastern doesn't stand out as a college campus with more STDs than average.
"STDs on EIU's campus are equal with statistics from other colleges," Baker said.
In addition to STD testing, Health Services offers pregnancy tests. Baker thinks students should take advantage of that before buying an over-the-counter home pregnancy test.
"It is free for students to come in to take the pregnancy test," Baker said. "Plus, the lab personnel is certified, and we can provide counseling for students too."
The test can be performed five to six days after conception and it only takes a few minutes to find out the results.
The morning after pill is an option for students worried about pregnancy two to three days after unprotected sex. Health Services issued about 200 pills last year.
Tim Bussman, senior accounting major, thinks Eastern does a good job of educating students about safe sex because they educate them about the consequences of their actions.
"The Condom Club came to Taylor and did an excellent presentation about how to put on a condom," Bussman said. "It could be the difference between being a father and not being a father, or being healthy or dealing with an STD."
Students who think they may have a sexually transmitted disease (STD) or just want to be on the safe side can go to Health Services, which provides lab testing for all STDs except HIV.
According to Shelia Baker, Health Services medical director, there is no general test that detects all STDs. Tests are done individually either by swabbing the genital area or by a blood test.
"Chlamydia, gonorrhea, bacterial vaginosis, trichomonas and vaginal yeast are always tested for with females," Baker said. "Guys are always tested for chlamydia and gonorrhea."
These tests, which are done by swabbing the genital area, are done more often than other ones because these diseases are more common among college students.
"We only do a blood tests for syphilis and hepatitis when it is requested by a student," Baker said. "Many students have received vaccinations for hepatitis and the only students at risks for syphilis are female sex workers, people who have intercourse with someone infected with syphilis, men who have sex with men and IV drug users."
Health Services does not offer HIV testing, due to lack of equipment and HIV counselors to help students through the process. Students interested in HIV testing can go to the Coles County Health Department located on 18th Street.
"In the past, the Coles County Health Department came on campus a few times a year to do HIV testing," Baker said. "I think they stopped doing it because students didn't seem to show interest."
Eastern doesn't stand out as a college campus with more STDs than average.
"STDs on EIU's campus are equal with statistics from other colleges," Baker said.
In addition to STD testing, Health Services offers pregnancy tests. Baker thinks students should take advantage of that before buying an over-the-counter home pregnancy test.
"It is free for students to come in to take the pregnancy test," Baker said. "Plus, the lab personnel is certified, and we can provide counseling for students too."
The test can be performed five to six days after conception and it only takes a few minutes to find out the results.
The morning after pill is an option for students worried about pregnancy two to three days after unprotected sex. Health Services issued about 200 pills last year.
Tim Bussman, senior accounting major, thinks Eastern does a good job of educating students about safe sex because they educate them about the consequences of their actions.
"The Condom Club came to Taylor and did an excellent presentation about how to put on a condom," Bussman said. "It could be the difference between being a father and not being a father, or being healthy or dealing with an STD."
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